Governor Quinn recently signed legislation offered by Senate Democrats to give drivers a fair shake on Illinois roads.

The legislation, sponsored by Senate President Cullerton and Assistant Majority Leader Rickey Hendon, reforms the way the controversial Red Light Cameras are used to enforce traffic violations. The measure includes five specific reforms:

• A separate contract with paid technicians to analyze the violations
• No fee to appeal the tickets and if you lose, it doesn’t add to the fine
• Make a Web site available where people can watch the video of their infraction accessed by a code, license plate and drivers' license number
• A Web site must be posted detailing the location of Red Light Cameras
• Length of yellow lights will be determined by the Illinois Department of Transportation
• Municipalities must send drivers information to the Secretary of State when
• they have a minimum of five unpaid red light camera tickets

"It does not abolish them because I believe it’s fairly clear that there’s still a need, for safety reasons, to make sure that people are not allowed to run red lights," Cullerton said.

“A new Illinois law adds the human touch to traffic tickets generated by automated red-light cameras.” Associated PressMany recipients of tickets from red light cameras claim they’ve received tickets for unjust reasons including stopping beyond marked parameters at intersections. Others have claimed red light cameras have simply gotten violations wrong. Senate Democrats are convinced their plan will help stop unwarranted violations by allowing law enforcement officials to review violations before they are mailed off to drivers.

Red light cameras are installed at historically dangerous intersections and according to red light camera advocates, they’ve detoured accidents.

"Even though the cameras remain, at least we’ve had some critical reforms. I think it’s a great day for the public. This is a great first step and I commend the Senate President for passing this bill for the drivers of the State of Illinois," Hendon added.