http://www.southtownstar.com/news/kadner/2094183,031010kadner.article

March 10, 2010

BY PHIL KADNER

 Cross the line. I dare you! That old schoolyard challenge has taken on a new meaning for motorists.

Stop your car past the white line before making a right turn on red and you could be in real trouble.

Several former police officers, each with more than 20 years on the job, have contacted me in recent weeks to complain about red light cameras. More specifically, their complaint is about the municipal administrative hearings that make final rulings in such cases.

"I never, in 25 years on the job, wrote a ticket to someone who came to a stop at a red light," one former officer told me. "Now I get a ticket because I came to a stop, but it was past the white line. That's chicken ..."

I recently visited a red light camera hearing in Country Club Hills to see what was happening for myself.

About a dozen motorists who had been issued tickets were waiting for their moment in court, which is located in the city council chambers. An attorney trained as an administrative judge presided on this day, although Mayor Dwight Welch told me that until recently he had been using former police chiefs as hearing officers.

"I thought they knew the law regarding traffic violations better than anyone but found out that we're supposed to have attorneys acting as administrative judges, so that's what we did," Welch told me.

Attorney Judy Kolman introduced herself as the hearing officer on the night I visited Country Club Hills. She explained to all that the fine for failing to stop at a red light was $100. If found guilty in the hearing, the conviction would not go on the driving records of motorists.

If they chose to appeal the verdict to a Cook County Circuit Court judge in Markham, however, the fine would rise to $254 if they were found guilty and the result would go on their driving records, possibly affecting their insurance premiums.

Anticipating what was to come, Kolman clearly explained before the first offender stepped forward that any failure to stop at the white line while making a right turn on red was a violation of the traffic code. She told everyone they should've learned that while taking their driver's license exam.

On a large flat-screen TV mounted on a wall a recording is played, and replayed, of each car that was ticketed.

One by one the offenders come forward.

Kolman comes around the council chambers to view the recordings at the same angle as the person cited for the traffic violation. Angles matter.

From where I sit, it looks as if almost every motorist failed to come to a stop at all. The red light on the traffic signal is clearly visible.

"Guilty," Kolman states time and again, in a flat but firm tone of voice. "You made the stop after the white line."

One older fellow, who I had met prior to the hearing, said he had entered the intersection while the light was yellow.

"No doubt about it," he said. "I'm here because they gave me a ticket for going through a yellow light.'

His jaw is set, his eyes glare with indignation, and he can't wait to appear before the judge.

The recording is played. His car never stops at all as he makes the right turn. The light is red. Not only is it red as he turns, it was red before his car even got to the corner.

"Guilty," Kolman barks.

As the fellow leaves the room, I whisper, "What happened?"

"Guess I was wrong," he replied with a shrug of the shoulders.

In two cases, Kolman rules "not guilty."

"You stopped on the line," Kolman explained. "I'm not going to penalize you for that, but technically that's a violation."

While reviewing another recording, Kolman spots a car that has not been ticketed.

"That's what I'm talking about," Kolman shouts. "That car stops behind the white line. That's a perfect illustration of what you are supposed to do.

"Now, if your view is obstructed looking left, you can edge forward after making your stop. That's acceptable. But you have to make your stop behind the white line before you edge forward."

Welch had told me last year that his city would not be issuing tickets to cars that stopped, white line or no white line.

"It's come to my attention that we have recently changed that policy," Welch said. "But our people review every recording before a ticket is issued, and I'm going to tell them if a car stops before making a turn, we don't issue a ticket. Technically, however, that is a violation."

I told Kolman that I was surprised I haven't gotten a ticket because I pass the white line all the time before stopping.

"I've been waiting to get a ticket myself," she laughed. "I do it, too."

I am now very conscious of where I stop. Still, half the time, I stop past the white line.

C

http://www.southtownstar.com/news/kadner/2094183,031010kadner.article

crossing the line on red light cameras

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