Why Are Red-Light Cameras Disappearing All Over Illinois?

Red-light cameras have always been a little shady. If I thought they actually stopped people from running red lights, I’d be all for them. But let’s be honest, nothing’s going to stop that ridiculously dangerous driving habit, especially not a box strapped to a traffic pole.

Illinois Towns Say Goodbye to Red-Light Cameras

Gurnee is the latest Illinois town to scrap its red-light camera program after 16 years, according to illinoispolicy.org. Why now? Declining ticket revenue and constant headaches with the Illinois Department of Transportation. Construction delays and slow approvals from IDOT left some of Gurnee’s cameras offline for years.

They’re not the only ones. Hanover Park and Palatine faced the same issues. In Hanover Park, red-light revenue dropped from $140,000 in 2021 to just over $2,000 last year. That’s a pretty expensive blinking light.

Why the Safety Argument Isn’t Holding Up

Red-light cameras were sold as safety tools, but here’s the kicker: IDOT doesn’t even track crash data where they’re installed. In fact, Oak Brook found crashes actually increased at intersections with cameras, then promptly removed theirs.

READ MORE: Biggest Reasons Rockford Drivers Are the Worst in Illinois

The Revenue Problem Cities Can’t Ignore

From 2008 to 2023, red-light cameras in Illinois racked up more than $1.5 billion in fines. But as the revenue dries up, towns are reevaluating whether the hassle is worth it.

Rockford Residents, You’re Not Missing Anything

Rockford never installed red-light cameras, and honestly, we’re not missing out. This is one traffic trend we’re fine sitting out.

READ MORE: Open Letter to Illinois Drivers Who Do This To Others at Red Lights

Or, you know, we could just fix Illinois. But that’s a blog for another day.