By
Ed Finegold
If you're driving in Chicago and come to a red light, make sure to stop. While this is a good idea in any major city, it is especially so in Chicago. One-hundred and one intersections are now equipped with camera-based systems that automatically record infractions and issue citations to motorists who ignore red lights. These robo-cops have generated more than $72 million in revenue for the city and have succeeded in reducing red light running incidents and collisions at the equipped intersections. Redflex, the Australian company that supplies the technology, saw a 41 percent increase in revenue last year thanks to its success in implementing this kind of program in cities around the world. The problem for telecommunications providers, however, is that they are barely sharing in the spoils. For an industry that knows its future is in applications that add value to connectivity, this is one great opportunity missed.
The Redflex Solution
Redflex's solution is relatively straightforward. Motion sensing cameras are mounted atop light poles, on free standing stanchions, or in other places where they have a clear view of a targeted intersection. When automobiles fail to stop at red lights, the cameras snap time and date stamped digital photos or video of the car, driver, and license plate. The photo is then sent across a telecommunications
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For an industry that knows its future is in applications that add value to connectivity, this is one great opportunity missed. |
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light. Drivers can also pay fines by credit or debit card through this site. The functionality behind this portal is supplied by a third party vendor, according to Ed Walsh, spokesman for the City of Chicago's Department of Revenue. The Department of Revenue also has its own IT staff that manages the servers, applications, and networking infrastructure involved in providing this online service.
Safety and Big Money in Traffic Violations
A statement from Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications says that "the number one priority of the red light camera program has always been the
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network – either over a landline or wireless IP connection – to servers that are responsible for identifying the car's registered owner. A $100 citation is automatically generated and mailed to the alleged offender.
Redflex's solution is integrated with Chicago's online citation tracking and payment portal. Drivers can visit a URL, enter the ticket number, and track the amount and due date of their fine and the status of any payment made. On this site, drivers can view snapshots of the alleged offense in cases where they've been accused of – or caught - running a red
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safety of our residents." OEMC explains that in cooperation with the city's police department, ten intersections were identified as hot spots for fatal accidents resulting from red lights being ignored. The first sets of cameras were installed at these intersections in 2003. Since that time, accidents at these intersections have decreased by an average of 24 percent. Red light running incidents have decreased by an average of 59 percent across all of the intersections equipped with red light cameras.
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