Chicago Alderman Red light cameras a 'money machine'

The Chicago Tribune reports:

Aldermen today questioned whether Chicago's red light cameras are making drivers safer or simply filling city coffers during debate on a measure that would offer traffic school for drivers whose violations are caught on film.

Only about 35,000 of the 790,000 drivers who got red light tickets last year requested a hearing to challenge the $100 fine, according to Scott Bruner, director of the city's Department of Administrative Hearings.

That prompted Ald. Ed Burke, 14th, wondered if the controversial cameras are having any deterrent effect.
"So I guess the myth that we apparently have held out that this is some kind of a great plan to create education and a plan to dissuade people from violating the law is more a myth than anything else," Burke said.

"It's a money machine, that's all. Period," he added.

The Chicago Machine's top boss telling it like it is. Heh, someone has to pay for those generous pensions.