Chicago’s speed camera deal brokered behind closed doors

Turns out there’s no proof that Chicago’s red-light camera program has done anything to improve safety. In May, the Chicago Inspector General released a scathing audit of Chicago’s controversial red-light camera program. The audit found the Chicago of Department of Transportation couldn’t prove it placed cameras at Chicago’s most dangerous locations or that the cameras actually...

Turns out there’s no proof that Chicago’s red-light camera program has done anything to improve safety.

In May, the Chicago Inspector General released a scathing audit of Chicago’s controversial red-light camera program. The audit found the Chicago of Department of Transportation couldn’t prove it placed cameras at Chicago’s most dangerous locations or that the cameras actually made streets any safer. For an alleged safety program these are the two most important red-light camera program considerations.

Additionally, Redflex Holdings Ltd., the parent company of Chicago’s former red-light camera vendor, acknowledged last week the entire camera program was “likely built on a $2 million bribery scheme,”according to a Chicago Tribune report.

Instead of reforming or ending Chicago’s troubled red-light camera program, the city is instead plunging headfirst into expanding its automated traffic enforcement program into the arena of speed cameras. Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration has signed a five-year, $67 million contract with American Traffic Solutions (ATS).

The deal has been brokered with very little transparency into the contracting process, according to the Chicago Tribune:

The city declined to release the bids of eight other companies that competed for the contract, as well as data from test cameras that ATS and contract finalist Xerox State & Local Solutions Inc. operated in Chicago. Territo also declined to identify how many potential speeders ATS cameras caught in the monthlong testing period but said the data showed “there’s no question there is a significant problem with speeding in the city of Chicago.”

ATS has had problems with its camera programs in the past:

ATS agreed to pay $4.2 million in partial refunds on a half-million New Jersey tickets that might have been issued in violation of state law. While not admitting fault, the company said it wanted to support its client cities to cut short a series of class-action lawsuits alleging its red light camera systems weren’t properly inspected or certified by 11 municipalities before citations started being issued in the state in 2009.

ATS’s red-light cameras cost $98,0000 each, with an additional $2,900 per month maintenance cost. If Chicago decides to rent the cameras, it will cost the city $3,750 per month.

Chicago motorists will be paying the bills, but it’s unclear if the speed camera program will actually improve safety. In a review of the contract, no provisions were found that would cause a camera to be removed if a traffic safety wasn’t improved or got worse.

Chicago’s speed camera program is destined for a repeat of the troubles of its red-light camera program.