Red-light cameras are target of Valentine’s Day protest

Nearly two dozen gather on North Side, urging drivers to honk to protest communities they say are using cameras to boost revenue rather than reduce crashes.

“Taxing people under the guise of safety”

By Kristen Schorsch, Tribune reporter February 14, 2010

Valentine’s Day captured passion of another kind — the ire of Chicago motorists who joined a nationwide protest Sunday against red-light cameras.

Nearly two dozen protesters armed with posters took over the southeast corner of Addison Street and Western Avenue. They called for drivers to honk their horns to protest communities they say are using the cameras, which snap photos of drivers running red lights, to generate revenue rather than reducing crashes.

“They’re stealing our money,” car passenger Adrian Cruz shouted out his window.

Scott Tucker, who organized the protest and is the Republican candidate for the 11th District state House seat, said he’s supporting pending legislation to rid automated ticketing machines in Illinois.

“It’s a quality-of-life issue,” said Tucker, 37, of Chicago’s Roscoe Village neighborhood. “It’s taking money out of our pockets and putting it into a wasteful government economy rather than keeping it in the free enterprise system” and creating jobs.

via Red-light cameras are target of Valentine’s Day protest – chicagotribune.com.