Petition Calling on State Senator Dan Duffy to Introduce Legislation Banning Red Light Cameras in Illinois

Please tell State Senator Dan Duffy to stand up for Illinois citizens by introducing legislation fully banning the use of red light cameras in our state.

Last year Senator Duffy's bill on red light cameras failed to make it through committee intact. As a result, he promised to introduce new legislation on this issue in 2011. Senator Duffy recently changed his mind and is now planning to introduce a bill that would only ban the use of these cameras in right-turn lanes.

Illinois Campaign for Liberty is unwilling to support anything less than a statewide ban on the use of these cameras. While it is true that a large percentage of tickets issued from the use of these cameras wrongfully stem from legal right-turns, a bill that merely discontinues that practice implies that their use in general is acceptable.

Senator Duffy has stated that, "red light cameras are being installed at intersections with highest traffic flow - not highest rate of incidents", proving that these cameras are being used to generate funds and not, as others claimed, to promote safety. In fact, studies have shown that the rate of accidents increase where the cameras are in use, rather than decrease as politicians claimed would happen.

Politicians in Springfield, as well as those in municipalities around the state, are desperate to continue their out-of-control spending. Rather than making tough decisions and making cuts, they are raising millions of dollars through the use of these cameras and other nefarious "fees" and bilking Illinois citizens of their hard-earned money.

Please sign the petition below and let Senator Duffy know that we will accept nothing less than a statewide ban on these cameras.

Whereas: Red Light Cameras are a direct violation against the rights of the citizens of Illinois: and

Whereas: Evidence shows that Red Light Cameras are being used to generate funds and not to promote safety as claimed: and

Whereas: The state of Illinois, as well as municipalities throughout the state, continue to seek avenues to fund their out-of-control spending rather than make necessary cuts: and

Whereas: Red Light Cameras are merely an underhanded means to transfer wealth from the private to the public sector: and

Whereas: Studies have shown that the use of Red Light Cameras increases accidents, contradicting the claims made by the state for their use and causing further injury to Illinois citizens:

Therefore, be it resolved that we, the undersigned urge you, Senator Dan Duffy, to introduce legislation, as promised, that would fully ban the use of Red Light Cameras, and discontinue pursuit of compromise legislation that would merely outlaw their use in right-turn lanes.