Crestwood mayor resigns, pleads guilty to red-light camera bribery

By Patrick Andriesen

11/19/2021

Crestwood Mayor Louis Presta pleaded guilty to bribery, lying to federal authorities and tax charges as part of a pay-to-play red-light camera scheme. The cameras took $1 billion from Illinois drivers in a decade.

TAGS: Illinois, Louis Presta, red light cameras

Former state lawmaker used bribes to promote red-light cameras in Chicago suburb, feds charge

By Patrick Andriesen

04/27/2021

New federal corruption charges state a former Illinois House member conspired to use bribes to get a red-light traffic camera contract renewed and more of them installed in a suburban Chicago community. Traffic cameras collected $5.5 million during a decade in the suburb.

TAGS: bribery, corruption, red light cameras

Exposing insider politics of red-light cameras is aim of Illinois bill

By Patrick Andriesen

03/25/2021

After paying $1 billion in red-light camera fees, Illinoisans deserve to know more about how the devices are being pushed with their local political leaders.

TAGS: corruption, lobbying, red light cameras

Crestwood mayor charged in red-light camera bribery scheme

By Ben Szalinski

08/10/2020

Multiple officials in the southwest suburbs have been implicated on criminal charges in a federal investigation into red-light cameras.

TAGS: bribery, corruption, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, red light cameras

Red-light camera vendor at heart of corruption probes gets PPP loan

By Ben Szalinski

07/08/2020

SafeSpeed has been involved in a federal investigation that has resulted in corruption charges against multiple Illinois politicians.

TAGS: corruption, COVID-19, PPP: Paycheck Protection Program, red light cameras, SafeSpeed

Illinois House committee passes bill to ban red-light cameras statewide

By Ben Szalinski

03/12/2020

Red-light cameras have been the subject of multiple corruption investigations and have cost Illinois drivers over $1 billion.

TAGS: conflict of interest, corruption, David McSweeney, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, IDOT: Illinois Department of Transportation, IRS: Internal Revenue Service, Jeff Tobolski, Martin Sandoval, Oakbrook Terrace, red light cameras, SafeSpeed

Bribery charge, resignations hit prominent players in red-light camera scandal

By Ben Szalinski

03/09/2020

A Cook County commissioner quits as a former city administrator faces a bribery charge. Both played roles in the rise of red-light cameras and vendor SafeSpeed.

TAGS: Chicago Department of Aviation, conflict of interest, Cook County, corruption, IDOT: Illinois Department of Transportation, Jeff Tobolski, Lyons, Martin Sandoval, McCook, Oak Brook, Patrick Doherty, red light cameras, SafeSpeed, Toni Preckwinkle

Illinois House passes bill to tear down nearly 100 red-light cameras

By Ben Szalinski

02/26/2020

A proposal to limit red-light cameras in Illinois is making significant progress.

TAGS: corruption, David McSweeney, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jonathan Carroll, Martin Sandoval, Mattie Hunter, red light cameras, SafeSpeed

Blagojevich comes home to America’s most corrupt city

By Ben Szalinski

02/26/2020

Chicago and the state of Illinois are notorious around the country for high-profile corruption convictions. Rod Blagojevich settles back in after the former governor’s imprisonment for corruption.

TAGS: Chicago, conflict of interest, conviction, Cook County, cooling off period, corruption, ethics, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jeff Tobolski, lobbying, Martin Sandoval, Patrick Doherty, prison, red light cameras, revolving door, Rod Blagojevich, SafeSpeed, watchdog

Bill would ban Illinois lawmakers from acting as lobbyists

By Ben Szalinski

02/24/2020

When Illinois lawmakers work as lobbyists, it creates public distrust and serious conflicts of interest.

TAGS: bribery, Carol Ammons, conflicts of interest, cooling off period, corruption, ethics, IDOT: Illinois Department of Transportation, lobbying, Martin Sandoval, red light cameras, revolving door, Scott Bennett