Lake County Gazette

Illinois state Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) is warning motorists across the state about what he calls “the corrupt red-light camera industry."

“[It] is focused on nothing more than taking your money,” McSweeney posted on Facebook. “We need to get rid of red-light cameras.”

Long a crusader against the industry, McSweeney’s campaign against them was recently reignited after a Chicago Tribune report detailed how companies like SafeSpeed have taken advantage of a legal loophole that allows them to put public officials on the company’s payroll without making it known to the public. According to the Tribune, SafeSpeed is also known to have made at least $450,000 in contributions to more than 100 political funds, including that of Illinois state Sen. Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago), who was recently forced to step down as chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee after being implicated in a kickback scheme.

Two years ago, the Tribune detailed in an investigation how Sandoval personally involved himself in getting the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to approve cameras at a busy intersection in Oakbrook Terrace that IDOT had previously designated as one of the safest in the area.

“Red-light cameras are being used by local governments to raise revenue, not improve safety,” McSweeney said in another post to Facebook. “My bill would ban red-light cameras. We need to end corruption in Illinois in both parties."