ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and Interim Corporation Counsel with a Request to APPROVE a RESOLUTION Requesting State Legislators Sponsor an Amendment to the AUTOMATED TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM.
Body
BACKGROUND:
625 ILCS 5/11-208.6 authorizes the use of automated cameras (“red light cameras”) to capture traffic violations. 625 ILCS 5/11-208.6(m) specifically restricts the operation of these camera systems to “Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair, and Will and to municipalities located within those counties.” Other portions of the statute limit the ability to adopt red light camera violations by a local ordinance to those communities identified in 208.6.
Based on the legislative history of the statute it appears the only rationale for limiting the authority to those particular counties was that they expressed an interest in a red light camera system when the bill was being introduced and debated in 2006.
Section (m), which limits use to 8 counties was proposed as Amendment #3 to HB 4835 on March 1, 2006. It was immediately referred to the Rules committee the same day and the Rules Committee recommended passage of the Amendment on March 2, 2006. The next day, the House adopted the amendment. On March 3, 2006, the House had a short debate on the amendment before it was sent to the Senate (where it later passed). The short House debate on March 3, 2006 is contained in the Transcript of the 94th General Assembly, House of Representatives (pages 36-37). Speaker Madigan recognized Rep. Saviano, who stated:
“Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Members of the House. House Bill 4835 contains a couple different provisions. If you recall back the night before Thanksgiving last year there was a major train accident in my hometown of Elmwood Park where cars were struck on the tracks and, subsequently, we had 16 people get injured and thank God nobody got killed. And the underlying bill…language in this bill addresses the expansion of a program that was started out in DuPage County in Wood Dale on York Road and Wood Dale Road, which allowed cameras to be installed on the railroad tracks to monitor traffic that’s…that…of people who go around gates, people who stop on tracks. Additionally, the language in this Bill also allows or cameras to be installed at intersections for people who blow red lights. We’ve got a pilot program currently in the City of Chicago and there’s a number of municipalities across the state that have shown some interest in addressing this issue. I have to commend Senator Cullerton in the Senate for helping with this. He worked out the language with the City of Chicago and with the counties that werewanted the permissive ability to do this and the municipalities who wanted the permissive ability to do this. And as a result, we have a great piece of legislation and I would ask for your favorable vote.”
Rep. Saviano’s comments indicate that the counties and municipalities who wanted the permissive ability to install red light cameras were included in the bill. There was no other criteria identified for who would be given the authority to use the cameras.
The legislative history supports an amendment when another County or Municipality wants the ability to do a camera program. The attached Resolution encourages the City’s local legislators to propose an amendment to the state law that would allow Peoria County, and therefore any municipality within Peoria County, the ability to use red light cameras for traffic enforcement.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: N/A
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: Potential for increased traffic safety is legislative change is made.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: City would have ability to utilize a red light camera program for traffic enforcement.
IMPACT IF DENIED: Status quo.
ALTERNATIVES: None.
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: N/A
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2017 - 2032 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Safe Peoria
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Reduce crime.
DEPARTMENT: Legal