http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=390698&src=5

From Kill TN Traffic Cameras on Facebook.

Ban the Cams Note:  The county IS REFUSING TO LISTEN TO ITS CITIZENS WHO HAVE DEMANDED RLC BE TAKEN DOWN!  70% said so in a COUNTY DONE POLL!

Kane Co. to review red light cameras
Survey shows 70 percent of residents don't want them
By James Fuller | Daily Herald Staff
Contact writer

Changes are in store for red light cameras in Kane County after more than 70 percent of local residents voicing an opinion on the devices want officials to pull the plug.
The county's transportation officials shared the results of the county's public comment period on the issue Monday as the county board prepares to discuss the future use of the cameras. Nearly all the support for the cameras in the public comment period came from local police and municipal officials who said the cameras increase driver safety and reduce accidents. Residents against the cameras said the only thing the devices increase is traffic ticket income.
County officials will investigate further, particularly the touchy subject of tickets given while making right turns. The county board's Transportation Committee said any significant changes in the use of the cameras may result in the cameras disappearing completely.
"The question I would have is if we start limiting turns and so forth, what company is going to want to put in the red light (camera) if all we're going to do is have left-hand turning violations?" committee member Cathy Hurlbut asked.
"Generally, that's true," responded committee Chairman Bill Wyatt. "(The companies) are in it for the profit, and the profit generator of a red-light camera is the whole right turn on red stuff. If you take that out of the equation, we'll find that these people all of a sudden don't see a viability."

There's already some evidence of that. When Libertyville officials tried to install red light cameras, but let it be known there would be no tickets issued for turning right on a red light, the camera company backed out of the deal. The company didn't specifically say why.
The county's transportation staff said the key going forward will be to examine exactly what is causing accidents at problematic intersections and then looking for an engineering answer before turning to a red-light camera. One suggestion, offered by committee member Gerald Jones, was to simply put up "No Turn On Red" signs instead of writing tickets for right turns on red lights at problematic intersections.
"There are still some simple answers to some of this stuff," said Carl Schoedel, the county's director of transportation. "We want to make sure we're at least considering a fix. If there isn't a safety problem out there - if it ain't broke - don't fix it. If there is a red light-running problem, there are multiple ways to fix it, one of which may be red light cameras. But that may not be the best solution."
Wyatt said tickets issued during right turns isn't the only problem with the cameras that needs fixing. County residents also expressed anger about the process of fighting a red-light camera ticket.
"One area that's problematic is the hearing officer would typically be one of our deputies," Wyatt said. "People feel they go into a kangaroo court where the outcome is determined because the hearing officer is one of our employees."
If the county keeps red light cameras as an option, some sort of privatization is a must, said Schoedel.
Committee member Mike Kenyon asked if there was a way for the county to just take over the entire camera operation, including the actual cameras. Schoedel said he's unaware of any government going that far, mostly because the costs are prohibitive.

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