As comptroller, I have the right to stop collecting unpaid red-light camera fines

When political insiders are moonlighting as agents for red-light camera ticket companies, it’s time to act.

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A red light camera at an intersection in Skokie.

A red light camera at an intersection in Skokie.

Sun-Times file photo

I suppose I should apologize for rising above my “place” to make the kind of reforms in state government that up until yesterday the Sun-Times Editorial Board lauded me for. Sorry, but I’m not going to apologize for doing my job.

We’ll have to agree to disagree on whether reforms in the way the state handles red-light camera ticket collections are most likely to come from an independently elected state official like the comptroller — or from the Luis Arroyos and Martin Sandovals of the world.

Listen, I know we are not always going to agree on all issues and I appreciate the Sun-Times’ support for my Debt Transparency Act, Truth-in-Hiring Act and other reforms I have been able to pass through state government.

But, far from deciding to end our office’s help in collecting unpaid red-light camera ticket fines on a “whim,” as your editorial mischaracterized, our office thoroughly researched the issue over the past several months, informed by the excellent reporting of your investigative team and other Illinois media outlets.

SEND LETTERS TO: letters@suntimes.com. Please include your neighborhood or hometown and a phone number for verification purposes.

When political insiders are moonlighting as agents for red-light camera ticket companies, winning them contracts in neighboring towns and getting a cut of every red-light camera ticket fine motorists must pay for failing to come to a full stop during a right-turn-on-red as the Sun-Times has reported, it’s time to act.

You recommend I start a long legislative effort, asking the General Assembly to decide for me and for future comptrollers which fines are appropriate for my office to collect. But the General Assembly already decided that issue when it passed the law in 2012 to give the comptroller the discretion to decide which fines are appropriate to collect — without having to come back and ask their permission each time — perhaps in consultation with lobbyists for those industries. Even though the Legislature has reform-minded legislators, an unnecessary legislative effort would be a waste of time and taxpayer resources.

Voters did not elect me to sit behind some desk waiting to be told what to do. I hope you will come to see that the decisive approach we took is not only based on a legal and moral authority to do so, but is also the most effective way to protect taxpayers’ interests right now.

Susana A. Mendoza
Illinois State Comptroller

Illinois will regret pot legalization

This writer predicts that in the not too distant future, the citizens of Illinois are going to rue the day recreational marijuana became legal. One would hope that when laws are passed, they would uplift and benefit citizens in a positive and healthy way. The new law will not accomplish that. The consequences will lead to the following:

Breathing in marijuana smoke will cause health issues and burden the health industry just like cigarettes. The young are especially vulnerable.

Enforcement of laws dealing with marijuana will add to the burden on law enforcement that already has its hands full with gang violence.

Traffic accidents and fatalities will increase due to driving under the influence.

There will be ongoing squabbling over where pot will be sold, who will sell it, where it can be used and who will profit from the sale of it.

Those thinking of the profits to be made should have considered the long-range cost and harm inflicted on society.

Ned L. McCray, Tinley Park

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