The Expired Meter covers Liberty Restoration Project Nationwide Red Light Camera Protest
Thursday, February 11th, 2010Valentine’s Day Red Light Camera Protest
Red, red, red.
That’s the only color you see on Valentine’s Day.
Red hearts, red roses, red candy, red balloons and now, red light cameras?
With all the love and romance in the air on Sunday for Valentines Day, there won’t be any love being shown at the intersection of Western & Addison between 12-3 PM.
This red light camera intersection will be ground zero for the Chicago outpost of a national protest against red light cameras.
Chicago’s participation is being spearheaded by Scott Tucker, Republican nominee for Illinois State Representative in the 11th District, formerly John Fritchey’s seat.
The 37-year old Tucker has made the RLC issue an important part of his platform.
“I think it’s a quality of life issue… it’s a tax presented as public safety,” said Tucker about red light cameras. “It takes money out of the citizens’ pockets and puts it into the hands of wasteful government.”
This national protest, is being spearheaded by The Liberty Restoration Project, based in Kansas City, MO.
The group decided, after the success of a red light camera protest a few weeks ago, they’d do another one. But this time, they’d try to do it on a national scale via their Facebook page.
According to Tracy Ward, the group’s Area Director for Kansas City, it took just two weeks for the protest go from just a handful of cities to 10 locations nationwide including Chicago.
“It’s been pretty good,” said Ward of the response to their national event. “It’s a totally spontaneous national protest. It kind of blew up on us. We have over 500 people nationwide saying they may or will attend just via Facebook.”
But do protests opposing red light camera actually have any effect?
“They are a necessary part of the process to overturn the use of ticket cameras,” states Gary Bills of the National Motorists Association, an organization which represents and protects the interests of motorists. “The public protests help inform local residents about the money raised by the cameras at the expense of motorists, without any corresponding safety benefit.”
Tucker, running an uphill battle against Democrat Ann Williams, supports Senate Bill 2466, introduced by State Senator Dan Duffy, that looks to eliminate all automated enforcement cameras (red light or speed) in Illinois.
However, according to Sen. Duffy and Tucker, SB2466 is being held up in committee by Senate President John Cullerton. Tucker hopes this protest in Cullerton’s backyard, will bring some pressure to bear on the Democrat.
“It depends on how Sen. Cullerton reacts,” says Tucker when asked if he feels Sunday’s protest will have an effect. “If he sides with Mike Madigan than constituents, then constituents will suffer. If he chooses to represent constituent concerns, he will call the bill to the floor. But without some decent public pressure, this bill will not see the light of day.”
Repeated requests for comments were made to Ann Williams’ campaign office but without any response.
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