Caught Red-Handed
Just a few short blocks from my apartment is a major intersection that involves a little more traffic than most street crossings. There are 6 lanes of north- and southbound traffic, plus four turn lanes, and then four lanes traveling east and west, complete with a time-restricted left turn signal. This intersection is tricky enough, so it only makes things worse when someone rudely and dangerously runs through a red light.
However, even if there isn’t a police officer around to catch them in the illegal act, they can probably still expect to receive a ticket. That’s because my busy crossing has one of over 100 speed-enforcement cameras located around the city. The city plans on adding at least 30 more before the year is over and hopes to have at least 200 more by 2012. These cameras are obviously working; since the program’s inception in 2003, there has been a 59-percent reduction in people running red lights. (Chicago Tribune)
I had known about a handful of these red-light cameras, but I never knew there were so many! Click here for a map that details the locations of many of these cameras. However, don’t assume that it’s conclusive. Coincidentally, I’ve noticed that the map doesn’t list the camera at my intersection.
3 Comments
Are these just for catching runners of red lights, or speeders too?
For now, these are just for red-light runners, but the governor plans to install radar cameras along the Interstates, which would enforce the speed limit.
Sometims these types of cameras are necessary especially with budgets cuts across the nation less officers will be out. London is huge on cameras, almost on every major intersection.