Camera Enforcement Violation in Chicago (1 Viewer)

[Da Guru]

In late August my daughter was playing a volleyball match at DePaul. Driving to the game on Friday night I was caught in traffic in downtown Chicago and was running late. I come to a light on Fullerton and something by DePaul..there is no one around so I blow it.

I forgot all about is until today. I get a 100.00 ticket in the mail with a picture of my car going through the intersection.

The ticket asks if I want to contest it. What are my chances? Out of towner..confused..sirens going off behind me, road rager chasing me? Any way I beat this?

 

[TommyGilmore]

In some states, you don't even have to legally pay for a camera ticket. Then again, this is the most corrupt city in the country we're talking about.

 

[Da Guru]

In some states, you don't even have to legally pay for a camera ticket. Then again, this is the most corrupt city in the country we're talking about.

Don`t pay??..it was a rental vehicle as well.

 

[saintfool]

i tried it last year. i blew through a yellow light, as it turned red. no dice.

 

[Zow]

In some states, you don't even have to legally pay for a camera ticket. Then again, this is the most corrupt city in the country we're talking about.

Don`t pay??..it was a rental vehicle as well.

Some states (like Minnesota) have kicked these tickets. Other states (like Arizona) have upheld them. Look at the ticket and see what sort of hearing process they afford for. You may have to reappear in Illinois to contest it. If you don't (I'm assuming the trip would be far and it wouldn't be worth it) and you don't pay it a default judgment may be entered or in an extreme case a warrant issued. This could result in a suspension of your license in some states, knock on your credit, etc. The ticket may just give you a number to call and you might be able to work something out there. If it's not much, just pay it. Not worth the risk IMO. I don't know what the law in Illinois is though. Maybe Christo can help you out.

 

[chet]

No real point in fighting it IMO. You don't lose any points, and your insurance isn't affected so all you're fighting is the fine. My experience with traffic court in Chicago is that they're willing to bend on the points and insurance reporting but you're going to pay the same or more in fines.

 

[Da Guru]

I just went online to watch the video..I don`t have a leg to stand on..the light was red with no other cars around me.

 

[GroveDiesel]

I just went online to watch the video..I don`t have a leg to stand on..the light was red with no other cars around me.

You could try arguing "but I thought nobody would see me!"

 

[Da Guru]

I just went online to watch the video..I don`t have a leg to stand on..the light was red with no other cars around me.

You could try arguing "but I thought nobody would see me!"

I was going to say I heard sirens as a excuse.

 

[Spiderman]

Aren't they ticketing you if you're going through the light while it's changing to yellow? There's been a few times recently where I'm not going to stop because that's more dangerous with a car right behind me than going through the light.

 

[jobarules]

You admit to running the light. Just pay the fee like a man

 

[Da Guru]

You admit to running the light. Just pay the fee like a man

I am old school, I want to be pulled over by a Chicago motorcycle cop, get the lecture, the ticket and have a nice day routine..not be brought down by some machine recording my plate number.The odd thing is when you go to the site to pay it has nothing to do with law enforcement. It is called Chicago-Revenue.org

 

[TommyGilmore]

I just went online to watch the video..I don`t have a leg to stand on..the light was red with no other cars around me.

Does the camera show you inside the vehicle? It was a rental. You could have let a friend borrow it.

 

[jobarules]

You admit to running the light. Just pay the fee like a man

I am old school, I want to be pulled over by a Chicago motorcycle cop, get the lecture, the ticket and have a nice day routine..not be brought down by some machine recording my plate number.The odd thing is when you go to the site to pay it has nothing to do with law enforcement. It is called Chicago-Revenue.org

So youd rather have to pay a fine PLUS have points added to your license?

 

[Da Guru]

I just went online to watch the video..I don`t have a leg to stand on..the light was red with no other cars around me.

Does the camera show you inside the vehicle? It was a rental. You could have let a friend borrow it.

No, just rear view.

 

[HateDaBears]

I just went online to watch the video..I don`t have a leg to stand on..the light was red with no other cars around me.

Does the camera show you inside the vehicle? It was a rental. You could have let a friend borrow it.

It does not matter in Illinois. The ticket is to the registered user. In this case the renter. Not to the driver. I got a ticket for a car my wife was driving.

 

[DrJ]

You admit to running the light. Just pay the fee like a man

You ran the light, you got caught. This is pretty simple.

 

[Da Guru]

You admit to running the light. Just pay the fee like a man

You ran the light, you got caught. This is pretty simple.

I stopped..looked both ways..then proceeded with caution. That should count for something.

 

[Hoart Petterson]

$100? Not too bad. Around $400 here. I'd pay it and forget it.

 

[Da Guru]

$100? Not too bad. Around $400 here. I'd pay it and forget it.

I just paid it. Enterprise charged me a 25.00 fee for tracking me down!

 

[DrJ]

You admit to running the light. Just pay the fee like a man

You ran the light, you got caught. This is pretty simple.

I stopped..looked both ways..then proceeded with caution. That should count for something.

Not really. I've never seen anything in drivers ed, traffic safety school, or the road tests to suggest red lights are only applicable if people are around. And I've been to a lot of traffic safety school.

 

[gmbacm]

I just went online to watch the video..I don`t have a leg to stand on..the light was red with no other cars around me.

Does the camera show you inside the vehicle? It was a rental. You could have let a friend borrow it.

It does not matter in Illinois. The ticket is to the registered user. In this case the renter. Not to the driver. I got a ticket for a car my wife was driving.

Tell them someone stole the car, ran the light then ditched the car. You found it and didnt see the need to call the police. Foolproof.

 

[Da Guru]

I just went online to watch the video..I don`t have a leg to stand on..the light was red with no other cars around me.

Does the camera show you inside the vehicle? It was a rental. You could have let a friend borrow it.

It does not matter in Illinois. The ticket is to the registered user. In this case the renter. Not to the driver. I got a ticket for a car my wife was driving.

Tell them someone stole the car, ran the light then ditched the car. You found it and didnt see the need to call the police. Foolproof.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

So apparently Rahm is getting quite the challenge in Chicago, which is interesting, but what really gets me is that apparently this is at least partly a result of something I've believed in a long time...

...and that is if any enterprising politicians anywhere from Miami to Anchorage wanted to get elected they should really top off their campaign with a promise to bring down the red light cameras in those places where they exist.

Apparently Chuy is doing this:

CHICAGO (WLS) --
In the race for Chicago mayor, Jesus "Chuy" Garcia promised to get rid of the city's red light cameras if he defeats Mayor Rahm Emanuel in the runoff election.

Seizing on the unpopular red light cameras, Garcia promises to end the program. However, the candidate did not offer any ideas on how he would make up for the program's lost revenue. Garcia says his position is about safety not the city budget.

As for the controversial red light cameras, polls have shown Chicagoans don't like them. And now, with five weeks until a runoff, neither does Garcia.

"It's time to end the red light rip off, I will do it on day one no more tickets," Garcia said.

Garcia's promise to end the program is a change of position on the issue. A few months ago, he said he would only keep the cameras that proved to reduce accidents. The candidate says his change of heart follows a published report that links a Rahm Emanuel former congressional aide to the company that operates the cameras.

"He can't end it because he is joined as the hip with the same special interests who are making millions on this deal," Garcia said.

The mayor says the cameras save lives and keep police on the beat fighting gangs and guns, rather than writing speeding tickets. The cameras also bring in revenue. Garcia would not say how the city would recoup money generated by red light tickets.

"The program was a lie to the citizens of Chicago from beginning, it was about them bearing responsibility of balancing budget," Garcia said.

Touring the new merchandise mart offices of the online company Yelp on Thursday, Mayor Emanuel would not take reporters' questions responding to Garcia's new position on red light cameras. The mayor would only talk about more jobs coming to downtown.

"This is going to be 400 jobs, so call your friends and tell them to move to Chicago," Emanuel said.

Former candidate Willie Wilson has big questions about the cameras, too. At what he's calling a "listening tour" event, Wilson promised to use the public's input before making an endorsement next week.

While he would not take questions, the Emanuel campaign sent out a red light camera fact sheet. It says as a Cook County Commissioner, Garcia voted for red light cameras after taking a campaign contribution from a red light operator.

A spokesperson said late Thursday that Mayor Emanuel will move to add countdown clocks at intersections to better inform drivers of when lights will change.

http://abc7chicago.com/politics/garcia-says-he-will-rid-city-of-red-light-cameras-if-elected-/546545/

I bet if I was a Chicagoan even if I was against say 80% of whatever Chuy's running on (just guessing) I would likely vote for him just to get rid of these foul, pernicious, undemocratic things.

Not only that there is also a long trail of corruption and improper influence wherever these camera programs have found an unfortunate home.

Red light cameras be gone!!!

 

[NCCommish]

They put those up here. They were told they were illegal and unenforceable but they paid millions anyway and did it. Turns out the tickets were unenforceable under NC law. The county owed itself over 400k in tickets it was refusing to pay itself. A big wasteful joke on taxpayers and everyone involved knew it was doomed to failure. Never did figure out where the money trail ended but at this point a certain incarcerated Charlotte mayor comes to mind.

 

[NCCommish]

Rahm's gonna lose. It might not even be close.

It is looking rough.

 

[Christo]

Be sure to wear that Tigers jersey to court.

 

[Hawks64]

Rahm's gonna lose. It might not even be close.

It is looking rough.

Karen Lewis is a lot more influential and powerful than he had anticipated.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Speaking of public records requests it would be interesting to ask your local councilmen, mayor and public works administrator for all contracts, emails, memos and letters regarding the arrangement of said red light cameras in your town or parish/county.