Mayoral Hopeful Bob Fioretti, Activist Mark Wallace Call For End of Red Light Program

Saying that the mayor’s controversial red light system is flawed because it allegedly is based on revenue versus safety, Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd) and activist Mark Wallace Monday called for the program to be terminated.

And, he said the speed light program is no better and that is too should end.

Fioretti introduced an ordinance into the City Council that if passed would end the red light program on April 15, 2015.

At a press conference at City Hall, Fioretti said there is no evidence proving that these cameras are effective in preventing accidents. He pointed to a recent Tribune investigation led by Dominique Lord, an associate professor at the Texas A&M University’s Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, who concluded that the cameras do not reduce injury-related crashes overall. The study concluded that at some locations, they significantly increased the number of rear-end crashes Fioretti and Wallace blame on the yellow light’s short timing.

Wallace said the yellow lights in Chicago are allegedly one second shorter than other places.

While the city claims the red light system has resulted in a 47 percent reduction in right-angle crashes at intersections having the red light cameras, Fioretti pointed to the city’s own Officer of Inspector general and its audit as proof the program’s failure.

He said the Chicago Department of transportation’s (CDOT) audit clearly showed the city’s failure to “substantiate its claims that the city chose to install red-light cameras at intersections with the highest angle crash rates in order to increase safety.”

The alderman and Wallace said there has been no solid proof that the program works but they agree it has raked in millions of dollars into the city’s coffers.

And, Fioretti pointed to the corruption linked to the red light program. He was referring Karen Finley, one of several Redflex officials fired during the scandal and who was indicted on charges that she and a key City Hall official plotted to fix the camera program.  Fioretti said it was born into corruption and that it should be lights out for this program.

Fioretti and Wallace were flanked by supporters carrying signs that read, “Rahm, give the money back.”

Saying that the mayor’s controversial red light system is flawed because it allegedly is based on revenue versus safety, Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd) and activist Mark Wallace Monday called for the program to be terminated. (Photo by Chinta Strausberg)

Chinta Strausberg is a Journalist of more than 33-years, a former political reporter and a current PCC Network talk show host. You can e-mail Strausberg at: Chintabernie@aol.com.