7/15/10-Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill into law that is intended to reform oversight of red-light cameras throughout the state.
Effective Jan. 1, 2011, independent verification of camera violations will be needed before citations are issued.
In the counties of DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair and Will violations must be reviewed and approved by law enforcement officers or retired officers in that county or municipality. Violations in the city of Chicago or Cook County must be reviewed by a law enforcement officer, retired officer of a “fully-trained reviewing technician.”
Municipalities or counties with red-light cameras must also post the locations of the devices on their websites. They are also forbidden from charging violators an additional fee for choosing to exercise their right to an administrative hearing to contest the ticket.
Another provision in SB935 gives drivers more flexibility when approaching the edge of an intersection. A complete stop still will be required before making a right turn on red, but drivers won’t be ticketed solely for coming to a stop after the painted stop line, unless a pedestrian is nearby.
In addition, vehicle owners must be able to access video evidence of their offense on the Internet.