Oak Brook calls for Oakbrook Terrace to remove red light cameras near Oakbrook Center Mall

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Unwell. (WLS) — The village of Oak Brook is looking for the removing of crimson mild cameras that neighboring Oakbrook Terrace turned again on final month.

The cameras are put in at one of many busiest intersections in DuPage County, close to the Oak Brook Middle Mall.

It stays enterprise as ordinary on the intersection of Route 83 and twenty second Road, the place crimson mild cameras snap photographs of automobiles that allegedly undergo crimson lights. The village of Oak Brook Terrace is sending out $100 tickets, however officers with the neighboring village of Oak Brook say it must cease.

“Everyone knows it is about cash. Income. Authorized or unlawful. That is why these cameras are there,” Oak Brook Village Trustee Mike Manzo mentioned. “These cameras usually are not there due to security.”

Village of Oak Brook officers declare the crimson mild digital camera program is rooted in corruption. Former Oakbrook Terrace Mayor Tony Ragucci was convicted of accepting cash to permit the cameras within the metropolis. SafeSpeed put in the cameras however has denied realizing in regards to the kickback scheme for which the previous mayor was satisfied. That scheme concerned an outdoor gross sales firm.

SEE ALSO | Former Oakbrook Terrace mayor pleads responsible in red-light digital camera bribery scheme

IDOT ordered the cameras turned off earlier this spring, and crews coated them with black hoods. However Oakbrook Terrace officers appealed and obtained a restraining order to get the covers eliminated and the cameras turned again on.

Oakbrook Terrace maintains the cameras enhance security at one of many busiest intersections within the space. Mark Wallace, who runs Residents to Abolish Crimson Gentle Cameras, disagrees.

“Universally these cameras produce extra accidents than they stop,” Wallace mentioned.

In an effort to get the cameras turned again off, Oak Brook’s mayor wrote in a letter to Gov. JB Pritzker: “I’m asking you to subject an Govt Order instantly shutting down and eradicating all crimson mild cameras…”

Pritzker’s workplace, nevertheless, maintains “The Governor doesn’t have the authorized authority to ban a crimson mild digital camera by Govt Order, not to mention violate a courtroom order with an Govt Order.”

“What I discover so fascinating is that almost all elected officers help the crimson mild cameras for no matter motive, however the folks don’t,” Manzo mentioned. “The persons are unified towards these crimson mild cameras.”

Oakbrook Terrace issued an announcement saying that research proceed to point out that crimson mild cameras enhance security and save lives.

The village of Oak Brook plans to take up the problem at their board assembly Tuesday night time.