School buses throughout Illinois could be equipped with cameras to catch motorists who illegally pass by when the stop signs are extended under legislation the Senate approved Wednesday.
The bus camera bill ignited a debate in which opponents brought up controversial red-light ticket cameras in Chicago and the federal probe of bribery allegations surrounding the city's contract with Redflex Traffic Systems. One foe derided the bus camera idea as the "next generation of red-light cameras."
Longtime lobbyist Al Ronan, who represents a separate red-light camera company known as Redspeed, is pushing the latest legislation. Ronan, who was instrumental in creating the state's red-light camera laws, said Redspeed brought the bus camera idea to him.
The lobbyist indicated that he first checked with the two school districts he represents, in Chicago Heights and Park Forest, and said they "wholeheartedly" supported the idea because it is good public policy. Ronan also said he saw no conflict of interest in filing on behalf of the school districts and not Redspeed when the bill was before a committee. He said it is well known that he lobbies for Redspeed.
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