Red Light Camera Review Gets Green Light in Park Ridge

Law enforcement representatives told Park Ridge Committee of the Whole members 154 motorists were issued citations during February based on video surveillance on vehicles traveling westbound on Oakton Street at Northwest Highway, at a meeting on Monday. The citations added $7,874.06 to Park Ridge’s balance sheet, according to a city memo.

Michael Lebert, of RedSpeed Illinois, and a former Elk Grove Village deputy police chief, and Laura Kappler, traffic officer at the Park Ridge Police Department, spoke with committee members about the red light camera in Park Ridge.

Lebert said the number of crashes at that intersection stayed the same, while traffic volume increased.

“I’ve got 30 years of law enforcement myself, and I’ve seen an industry changing to using technology instead of people more and more and more,” Lebert said.

RedSpeed Illinois’ contract with Park Ridge expires in March 2014, Lebert said. The presentation on Monday was more for communication purposes, he said.

In an interview with Patch, Kappler said the number of traffic officers decreased by four positions in 2010. Kappler said the red light camera was a benefit to the city because fewer officers were employed to oversee special traffic assignments.

“Now I’m it; I’m in the office most of the day,” Kappler said. “I’m in charge of more things; I don’t do the kinds of things [the previous traffic officers] did.”

For more information on the report, visit the City of Park Ridge’s website.