The data is just data and needs more explanation, but the city of Geneva released numbers on 2011 violation fees from red-light cameras on Randall Road, following a Freedom of Information Act request by freelance opinion columnist Jeff Ward.

Ward e-mailed the request to City Administrator Mary McKittrick on Feb. 17, and McKittrick e-mailed the chart attached to this article on Friday, Feb. 24.

Geneva has two red-light cameras in operation, at Williamsburg Avenue and Randall Road and at Fargo Boulevard and Randall Road. Both are among Geneva's most dangerous intersections.

City Administrator Mary McKittrick said Saturday that the Redflex fee is based on a set fee plus a transaction fee. Geneva's fees are associated with the number of tickets.

The drop of Geneva revenue in the last six months of 2011 would be an indicator that fewer people are running red lights and might mean that driver behavior is changing.

"We were happy to see that trend—although it's difficult to call it a trend because it hasn't been a long period of time," McKittrick said. "But we're hopeful that's what it means."

Geneva police Cmdr. Julie nash made a presentation to the City Council on Oct. 31 on red-light cameras and spoke in their favor.

At the time, Nash said 3,635 incidents had been recorded at Randall and Fargo alone. All were reviewed by police and 2,450 of those ultimately were processed. 

Nash said the cameras have helped determine the cause of several accidents.

"We've had a couple accidents where officers wrote the report based on what they were told had occurred. Fortunately for the videos, we were able to see otherwise," she said.

In October, Nash said the trial program had yet to show that it reduces accidents, but she was encouraged that it ultimately would increase safety.

"I was told to oversee this program. I now believe in this program," Nash said.

The data provided by the city show that Redflex received a total of $234,566.70 in 2011, with the city of Geneva gaining $177,223.31 from violation fees.

As the chart indicates, Geneva's income dropped significantly in the second half of 2011.

Red-light cameras recently became a campaign issue in the race for the Republican nomination for Kane County Board chairman. State Sen. Chris Lauzen held a press conference on Feb. 16, saying he would oppose their use in every way possible if he were elected chairman.

Burns said he supports some legislation to limit the use of red-light cameras and it would be unlikely the city would seek a permit extension.

Genevas' red-light cameras were installed in 2010 and will be taken down in the spring of 2013 when the county permit expires, McKittrick said.

Red Light Camera Data 2011

Redflex profits

Redflex website indicates that the company is doing well financially.

• After tax profit of $7.16 million for the half
• 84 percent increase in PCP net profit before tax
• 49 percent increase in PCP net profit before tax before sale transaction costs (non IFRS measure)
• 16 percent increase in PCP EBITDA – Results achieved despite a 9.2 percent adverse currency movement compared to PCP