Westmont Police said they have issued more than 500 citations after installing a result of the red light photo enforcement cameras in March.

The data was released by police April 27, which covers about six weeks of time since the cameras began filming at the intersection of Cass Avenue and Naperville Road.

According to the data, about 800 videotaped violations were submitted to police by the camera vendors, Police Chief Jim Ramey said. Of those violations, police issued 542 citations.

The Westmont Village Board approved the use of photo enforcement in August to catch motorists who drive through red lights or make illegal right turns. The village entered into an agreement with RedSpeed-Illinois, a Lombard-based company, to purchase the camera services for four years.

Police Sgt. Ross Brenza, who has been in charge of the red-light enforcement program for the village, said the data is collected by RedSpeed and then sent to the Westmont Police Department.

An officer reviews any suspected violations and determines whether a ticket should be issued. Individuals ticketed can appeal the fines during an administrative hearing.

Police said the first hearing was held April 21, and only four people of all those charged appeared to contest their citations. The village’s administrative hearing officer found all four defendants liable for the violation, police said.

One of the biggest concerns from police is the number of motorists who are not coming to a complete stop before turning right on the red light, which is considered a violation.

In some cases, however, Ramey said officers would not have always issued a citation, and would use the same discretion as if they had actually been at the intersection and witnessed the turn.

“A motorist who slows down, but rolls through a right turn on red without coming to a complete stop may not intend harm,” Ramey said.  “However, those actions create a needless and entirely preventable risk to the community. A driver who rolls through a right turn on red does not have adequate time to look for and react to other vehicles and pedestrians.”

Police would not indicate how much revenue has been bought in as a result of the violations. At $100 per fine, the village was set to raise $54,200.

RedSpeed charges the village a fee of about $1,499 per camera per month, which is paid for through the revenue the village receives in fines, said Debra Beerup, director of marketing for RedSpeed-Illinois.

Cameras at the intersection patrol westbound Naperville Road and southbound Cass Avenue, police said. Police also have not indicated how much money and time has been spent in reviewing those violations.

But Brenza said the issue is about safety, not revenue.

“This is being done to protect motorists, and pedestrians, from accidents,” he said. “That is the main objective here.”

Ramey said the red light camera program is intended to use technology to increase safety in the community. 

“Having a red light camera instead of a police officer on duty at an intersection 24 hours a day allows department personnel to answer calls for service and patrol other parts of the community,” Ramey said.

The village also hopes to install cameras at two other locations but is waiting for approval from state and county agencies, since the proposed intersections have shared jurisdictions over the roads.