Springfield, Illinois—The Illinois Senate Transportation subcommittee is set to pass a “shell” bill that will allow legislation on red-light cameras to be included in this legislative session.  A “shell” bill is a legislative maneuver that gets a bill in the queue even though it has not yet been written.

Currently, there are five proposals for changing the red-light camera laws in Illinois. Senator Dan Duffy’s (R-Lake Barrington) legislation, Senate Bill 2466, is the only one that calls for elimination of red-light cameras, except at railroad crossings and in construction zones. Other proposals mandate longer yellow lights and one eliminates red light camera tickets for right turns on red. The bill submitted by Senator Munoz (D-Chicago) offers only superficial changes that will not significantly curtail the use of red-light cameras in Illinois.

“I’m not sure if this is a ‘shell’ bill or a ‘shell’ game.” said Duffy.  “I don’t vote for ‘shell’ bills because they are blank checks. I like to know what I am actually supporting or opposing.”

The Chairman of the Transportation Committee, Senator Sandoval (D-Cicero), promised to bring red-light camera legislation to the floor this legislative session.  Chairman Sandoval has asked all Senators with red-light camera bills to craft a compromise bill that he will insert in the shell bill at a later date.

 “I am happy to work on anything that will ultimately get rid of red-light cameras.  Increasing the yellow light time and eliminating tickets for right turns would be a big step forward.  If we need to defeat red-light cameras one piece at a time, that is fine with me,” said Duffy.  “However, I will not put my name on a bill that pretends to eliminate or reduce the use of red-light cameras but in reality doesn't change a thing.  That is typical Springfield stuff and the people of Illinois are tired of it.  People want the red light cameras eliminated.”