City To Remove 18 Red Light Cameras
CHICAGO (CBS) -- For drivers who hate Chicago's red light cameras, here is some welcome news: The city is pulling the plug on a few of them.
Red Light Cameras Coming Down
The city says by the end of January, it will have removed 36 of the cameras at 18 intersections across the city.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel says that's because those places have become safer, with crashes significantly reduced.
Critics charge this has never been about safety but about revenue.
Since the city began installing the red light cameras a decade ago, they've generated about $72 million a year.
Even with the 36 cameras being removed, 348 will remain at 172 intersections.
And now the city is putting in new speed cameras that will catch those going too fast near schools and parks.
By the end of this year, 50 of those should be up and running.
The 18 intersections where red-light cameras will be removed are:
• Osceola and Touhy Avenues
• Kedzie and Devon Avenues
• Harlem and Higgins Avenues
• Sheridan Road and Hollywood Avenue
• Austin and Belmont Avenues
• Cicero and Belmont Avenues
• Halsted and Belmont Avenues
• California and North Avenues
• Wells and North Avenues
• Kostner Avenue and Division Street
• Clark Street and Cermak Road
• California Avenue and 35th Street
• California Avenue and 47th Street
• Pulaski Road and 71st Street
• Wentworth Avenue and 65th Street
• Racine Avenue and 79th Street
• 79th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue
• Stony Island Avenue and 89th Street
