THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2007
Bach: Revisit Red Light Camera Idea
By CRAIG ADAMS
Journal Reporter
Park Ridge Ald. Donald Bach (3rd) wants to revisit the idea of mounting cameras at various intersections to catch traffic light violators in Park Ridge.
The Public Safety Commission discussed the idea early in 2007, before Bach earned a seat on the City Council and the commission.
"They determined at some level that these things were not necessary or useful to the city of Park Ridge," Bach said. "I dispute that."
At the commission meeting of Nov. 1, Bach requested research material and minutes of the meetings when the cameras were discussed.
"I found several inconsistencies in the (minutes)." He obtained additional research material and distributed it to other commission members. "Sometime after the holiday, we'll get it back onto the public safety agenda for discussion."
Bach believes there are several intersections that could benefit from the cameras.
"They're generally not very useful where speed limits are below 30 mph," he explained. He hopes for cameras at several intersections on Northwest Highway, Oakton Street, and Devon Street.
He explained a driver running through a red light broadsided the son of one of his constituents at Oakton and Greenwood Avenue. Bach believes data about the cameras support their installation.
"You lower injuries or fatality related accidents by as much as 35 to 50%," he said. "The traffic cameras are another tool in our toolbox to make the streets of Park Ridge safer for pedestrians and motorists." Bach wants residents to understand he supports the idea from a safety point-of-view, not as a source of revenue.
"It's not just a ticket and collect the money thing," he said. He hopes citizens don't make the argument about money. "They accuse you of trying to fatten the city's general fund without being concerned about making the streets safer." However, he is not in denial or unhappy that the plan could do both.
"If it's going to add revenue to the city's general fund and make the streets safer, I'm not going to apologize for that," he stated.
Regarding cameras to catch people driving through stop signs he replied, "I want to hear more about it before I decide."