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In a series of stories beginning in 2012, the Tribune has exposed a questionable relationship between Chicago's red-light camera vendor and City Hall. Some of those revelations led to an ongoing federal criminal investigation and other probes that have cost Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. its Chicago contract and resulted in the resignation of the company's top executives. In addition, the Tribune has raised questions about the company's early connections to the speed-camera program launched by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Experts: Chicago's short yellow light times, red light cameras a risky mix

David Kidwell

Chicago has the nation's largest red light camera system and the shortest allowable yellow lights — a unique and dangerous combination that makes rear-end crashes more likely across the city, a Tribune investigation has found.

Red light cameras
Many red light cameras put in low-crash areas, Tribune study finds
Nearly half of the Chicago red light cameras included in a new Tribune study did nothing to make drivers safer and may have caused an increase in injury-related crashes.
Red light cameras
Tribune study: Chicago red light cameras provide few safety benefits
Chicago's red light cameras fail to deliver the dramatic safety benefits long claimed by City Hall, according to a first-ever scientific study that found the nation's largest camera program is responsible for increasing some types of injury crashes while decreasing others.
News
City Hall cites flawed statistics on red light cameras
After examining the Tribune's study of crash rates at red light camera intersections, the Emanuel administration has conceded that there was a key flaw in its own claim in October that right-angle crashes at such intersections were down 47 percent.
Red light cameras
Traffic experts on red light camera study
Here are comments from nationally recognized traffic experts who provided guidance to Tribune reporters during the process of gathering data for the study.
Red light cameras
How the red light camera study was done
The Chicago Tribune commissioned a study of red light cameras with two researchers affiliated with Texas A&M; University who conducted the work as independent consultants.
News
Redflex bagman pleads guilty in red light camera case
The bagman in a $2 million bribery scandal over Chicago's red light camera program pleaded guilty to paying kickbacks to a former top city transportation official for steering the lucrative contract to the company he represented.

Illinois Supreme Court dismisses challenge to red light program
Cynthia Dizikes

The state Supreme Court has dismissed a challenge to Chicago's red light camera program after two judges recused themselves and the rest of the court declared it was divided.
Chicago will keep millions from quiet change in yellow light standard
Hal Dardick

City Hall will not refund $7.7 million in red light camera tickets it collected after quietly lowering the yellow light standard, the city's transportation chief said.

How Chicago's red light ticketing turned yellow lights into cash
David Kidwell

Confronted with questions about a flurry of red light camera tickets stamped with yellow times below the 3-second minimum, City Hall said the fluctuation of hundredths of a second was normal.
City watchdog says red light program flawed, spikes still a mystery
David Kidwell

The red light camera program was beset by "fundamentally deficient" management and inconsistent enforcement, according to a limited inspector general review that failed to solve the mystery of suspicious ticket spikes.
Shorter yellow times are now the ticket
David Kidwell

A Tribune examination of overturned red light tickets revealed evidence that the city of Chicago has quietly cast a wider net to snare drivers since switching camera vendors earlier this year amid a bribery scandal.

Few red light refunds, spikes unexplained
David Kidwell and Alex Richards,

City Hall has promised 126 refunds to drivers tagged for $100 fines during suspicious spikes in red light camera tickets discovered by a Tribune investigation but upheld thousands of other tickets issued at the same times — all without explaining what caused the sudden surges.

Ex-Redflex CEO enters plea
David Kidwell

The former CEO of Chicago's fired red light camera vendor, Redflex Traffic Systems Inc., pleaded not guilty today to federal charges she helped orchestrate a decade-long $2 million bribery scheme.
Not guilty pleas in red light camera bribery scheme
Jason Meisner

A former Chicago transportation manager and his longtime friend both pleaded not guilty Tuesday to federal bribery charges in an alleged $2 million scheme to rig the contract for the city's red light camera program.

Key red light camera player cooperating with feds
David Kidwell and Jeff Coen, Tribune reporters

The alleged bagman in a $2 million bribery scandal over Chicago's red light camera contract is cooperating with federal authorities and has testified in the ongoing grand jury investigation, the Tribune has learned.
Tribune poll: Chicagoans want changes on red light program
Bill Ruthhart and Michelle Manchir, Tribune reporters

More than 9 out of 10 Chicago voters say changes should be made to the city's red light camera program, but are split on what to do, a Tribune poll finds.
Former red light camera CEO indicted, federal probe expands
David Kidwell

Chicago's red light camera scandal deepened Wednesday with the federal indictment of a former Redflex Traffic Systems CEO on charges she and a top City Hall manager conspired to rig the camera business for a decade.

City Hall watchdog launches ticket probe
David Kidwell and Hal Dardick

The investigation into the city's besieged red light camera program comes in response to Tribune reporting on suspicious spikes in tickets.
City Hall spells out ticket review process
David Kidwell and Bill Ruthhart

City Hall plans to start sending out letters Friday to at least 9,000 drivers with details of the review process to determine whether the city sends them $100 refunds for red light camera citations.
Redflex insider: I testified about secret meeting
David Kidwell, Tribune reporter

Former employee says he detailed how city official coached executives on how to get contract, also answered questions about yellow light times
City to review 9,000 questionable red light tickets
David Kidwell and Hal Dardick

Process remains unclear, however
Emanuel won't take questions on ticket spikes
John Byrne

For the fifth straight day Mayor Rahm Emanuel wouldn't answer questions about a Tribune investigation that revealed a series of suspicious red light camera ticket spikes.

Red light ticket spike fallout at City Hall
John Byrne, Kim Geiger and David Kidwell

Aldermen want probe, potential refunds
Cameras tag thousands for undeserved tickets
David Kidwell and Alex Richards, Tribune reporters

Analysis of 4 million violations recorded since 2007 reveals suspicious patterns at dozens of intersections, raises questions about system's management
Expert: Drivers missed chance on red light fines
David Kidwell and Alex Richards, Tribune reporters

Analysis shows appeals of tickets received during spikes could have been successful
Best red light ticket excuse: Driving Elton John
Some drivers offer unusual excuses to get out of red light camera tickets, but perhaps none has been more novel than taking Elton John to the airport as part of a police escort.
Ald. Reilly calls on city to fix red light camera problem
John Byrne

Ald. Brendan Reilly, reacting today to a Tribune investigation about sudden and unexplained spikes in red-light camera tickets at certain intersections, called on the Emanuel administration to determine the cause and issue refunds where appropriate.

How to read your red light camera ticket
David Kidwell, Tribune reporter

There are many details about infractions in the data at the top of the still photographs that remain available at photonotice.com:
Colorful past for insider at center of red light probe
David Kidwell, Tribune reporter

John Bills was a top Madigan operative with family links to the mob who partied on the field with World Series champs. Now he's at the center of the feds' red light bribery case.
Charges filed against ex-city manager of red-light camera program
David Kidwell and John Chase

UPDATE: The former City Hall manager who ran Chicago's red-light camera program was arrested today on federal charges related to the investigation of an alleged $2 million bribery scheme involving the city¿s longtime vendor, Redflex Traffic Systems.
Ex-Redflex manager tells of secret meeting
David Kidwell, Tribune reporter

Chicago official coached red light company before crucial City Hall meeting, he says
Red light camera firm admits it likely bribed Chicago official
David Kidwell, Chicago Tribune reporter

Chicago's embattled red light camera firm went to City Hall on Friday in its latest effort to come clean, acknowledging for the first time that its entire program here was likely built on a $2 million bribery scheme.

Bribe scandal could be widespread
David Kidwell, Tribune reporter

Fired Redflex exec names 13 other states, says he's aiding federal inquiry
Chicago OKs deal with new red light camera vendor
Bill Ruthhart, Chicago Tribune reporter

Xerox State & Local Solutions to get $19 million to replace cameras and up to $44 million for 5-year pact
Emanuel pulls handful of red light cameras as speeding tickets start
John Byrne, Chicago Tribune reporter

Cameras to be removed from 18 intersections with few crashes
Xerox picked for red light camera program
David Kidwell, Chicago Tribune reporter

Company that lost its Baltimore contract this year would replace Redflex
Speeders were plentiful in camera test run
David Kidwell and Bill Ruthhart, Chicago Tribune reporters

Monthlong trial at 4 sites found more than 93,000 violators, city says

Chicago and red light vendor: Breaking up is hard to do
David Kidwell, Chicago Tribune reporter

Deadline for new deal indefinite as City Hall, bidders figure out how to take over complex red-light camera system
Emanuel got $10,000 in donations linked to red light camera bidder
David Kidwell, Chicago Tribune reporter

Disclosure raises fresh questions over mayor's self-imposed curbs on campaign contributions
Redflex losing contract bids amid Chicago scandal
David Kidwell, Chicago Tribune reporter

Seeking to reverse their fortunes amid a debilitating Chicago corruption scandal, top executives of Redflex Traffic Systems flew to Florida for a personal pitch to local officials having second thoughts about giving the company a major contract for a red-light camera system.
Emanuel says speed camera program will proceed despite Redflex probe
John Byrne, Chicago Tribune reporter

Controversial firm has been barred from new city business
Emanuel cuts cord with besieged red-light camera firm
David Kidwell, Chicago Tribune reporter

Mayor bars company from bidding on new contract in light of disclosures of lavish gifts to ex-city official and of a cover-up

Federal Redflex probe casts speed camera initiative in an unfavorable light
David Kidwell, Chicago Tribune reporter

Beleaguered firm had been major contender for Emanuel's new program before scandal broke
Warnings about Redflex go back years
David Kidwell, Chicago Tribune reporter

Red flags were raised by red-light camera company's dealings with city as early as 2007
First Redflex internal probe 'clearly inadequate'
David Kidwell, Chicago Tribune reporter

Experts say law firm hired to conduct initial investigation of bribery allegations may have been hamstrung or deceived by red-light camera firm
Probe deepens as U.S. attorney subpoenas ex-city official
David Kidwell, Chicago Tribune reporter

Authorities seek financial records of commissioner who oversaw red-light camera program
3 more Redflex execs out as fallout continues for city's red light camera firm
David Kidwell, Chicago Tribune reporter

The president, chief financial officer and top lawyer for Chicago's red light camera company resigned this week amid an escalating corruption scandal that has cost Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. its lucrative, decadelong relationship with the city.

Ald. Burke calls for hearings on Redflex bribery questions
John Byrne

The chairman of the City Council’s Finance Committee today called for hearings into allegations that Chicago’s red-light camera contract was likely built on a $2 million bribery scheme.
Red-light camera firm gets 6-month reprieve
City dropping red-light camera firm as probe heats up
David Kidwell, Chicago Tribune reporter

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today he will axe the city’s embattled red-light camera vendor when its contract expires in July, citing new investigative findings that the company gave thousands of dollars in free trips to the former city official who oversaw the decade-long program.
Red-light camera firm fires VP, sues him over Chicago scandal
David Kidwell, Chicago Tribune reporter

Embattled red-light camera vendor Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. fired its executive vice president Wednesday and accused him of misconduct involving the company's scandal-plagued Chicago contract.
Inspector general subpoena in red-light camera probe

Redflex consultant also has ties to controversy in Louisiana
Ex-city official in red-light camera probe now in county post
City red-light camera vendor under scrutiny
David Kidwell, Chicago Tribune reporter

Ties between ex-city official, contractor questioned; payment of $910 hotel tab also at issue

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