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Feds: Red Light Camera Firm Paid For Chicago Official's Car, Condo
An anonymous reader writes "The former CEO of Redflex, a major red light camera vendor, and John Bills, former Managing Deputy Commissioner at the Department of Transportation, have been indicted on federal corruption charges stemming from a contract with the City of Chicago. According to the indictment, a friend of Bills was hired as a contractor and paid $2 million. Much of that money was then kicked back to Bills, who also got a Mercedes and a condominium via Redflex employees. The defendants are facing 23 counts including: mail fraud, wire fraud, and bribery. Each fraud count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years."
What an odd name for a car.
Anything from Chicago. ......
What, you think that these cameras were set up after a careful consideration of how to balance the needs and rights of the citizenry against the desire to improve traffic conditions? No, it's based on lobbying by the camera sales staff, promising easy money in return for a right to prey on the citizenry. This being Chicago, some of the easy money was kicked-back to the local politicians, but the process isn't really that much different in regions where there is enough moral fiber for the state to keep all of the proceeds.
This is how the whole country operates. Kickbacks, donations, non-executive but highly paid positions on boards. If you're in a position of power to aid a company, you will be bribed one way or another.
Chicago and corruption. They just go together.
As an Australian I sincerely apologise for Redflex, possibly the most embarrassing export from this country.
Right? Right?
It certainly applies to the title of the story.
I commend you, Catpain Chaos, for your sense of humor
When you do this for a member of congress, it's called Lobbying, when it do it for lesser politicians, they call it a bribe. Guess these peeps are finding out the hard way.
Be seeing you...
The city has an endemic culture of corruption, officials should be treated with skepticism in all affairs.
I'm sure we can rule out posting offtopic as a possibility.
Who cares - go away clown
But now. Just like any other city. Run by corrupt people.
And this is where America got her President.
Good going, you idiotic dingbats. I hope you're happy that your 2008 populist emotional outburst is wrecking the entire world.
And just like for for profit prisons, they have to generate more money each quarter. It's the way of business. Which is why neither should be done on a for profit mode
We've already had examples of shortening yellow light duration to make certain that more people are fined, more profits. This has already caused rear ending crashes to increase as people bitten once jam on the sprags once they see the yellow light. (not to excuse tailgating - it shouldn't be done.
And the amount of revenue generated has to be significant if they consider expensive cars and condos as a cost of doing business.
But after doing things like shortening yellow lights to increase profit, what's next? Hey who knows? Maybe hire a few graphic artists and do matching of redlight cam photos and photoshop license plates on 'em of owners of similar cars.
Technology is awesome! But the shareholders must be served.
The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
They settle out of court for 1M, he'll get to keep the car named condo and nothing will come of it. The city needs the revenue too badly to take the cameras down. Remember kids, white collar crime *does* pay!
a friend of Bills was hired as a contractor
That's what they get for hiring an alcoholic.
This brings up an interesting metaphysical point: can one post off-topic if one hasn't posted "for months"? If so, the system here truly is broken.
A red light camera company employee accused of fraud?
I'm shocked, shocked I tell you.
One of the best pieces of satire I have ever seen.
I really think we in the US are heads to Third World status. We have the political and economic base for it and it is increasingly going that way.
Good advice - thanks for reminding me why I haven't posted here for months.
What usually happens there is that you get a job with a lobbying firm or their clients when you leave. There is no direct tit for tat, it is just a generally understood thing. They lobby you, you do what they want. When you leave, they'll pay you very well to then go and continue lobbying the next guy. Extremely shady, but not outright illegal.
This sounds like a straight up bribe, which is illegal, money in exchange for a contract.
Well, we really missed all your insightful, on-topic posts in the months you were gone. Thank the lord that you're back here with some more of your erudite posts.
You're a temporary arrangement of matter sliding towards oblivion in a cold, uncaring universe
What's really news is that corruption in Chicago makes the news.
"Just think of all the fun you'll be missing - you won't have Nixon to kick around anymore."
-- Richard Nixon (paraphrased)
Each fraud count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years."
I wish that you saw more minimum sentences, the maximum sentence seems like something created for sensationalism media because saying "roughly 3 months of actual jail, 9 of house arrest and 2 years of probation" sounds too soft for most crimes, but more accurate than what is implied by the "20 year MAXIMUM!" which sounds appropriately punitive
You want to look at a police force? Look who gets promotions. It's not those who don't have crime to deal with. It's those who do deal with crime, who make big arrests and get the headlines.
The police officers who have quiet communities, who don't have incidents that draw attention? Nothing.
Nobody appreciates the people who make sure there aren't bumpy roads or squeaky wheels.
Heck, when was the last time Linus Torvalds got attention on Slashdot? Was it thanking somebody for their contribution, or was it yelling at some damnfool?
Come on now, that was a reasonable expectation from TFH.
Roooox---annnne
I avoid all red light camera intersections because it's a dead giveaway that it's a dangerous intersection and they didn't bother to fix it.
Q: "Hey, this intersection is dangerous. What can we do about it?"
A: Engineer it so it's safer.
B: Let's take pictures!
C: Profit!
D: B! & C!
Lol.
I knew it was bullshit from the start. It's just a racket to make money for the company and the city, with innocent motorists getting fucked.
Well duh, this is Chicago. Did you expect different?
The only honest politicians we have here are the ones who at least have the decency to stay bought.
And this is where America got her President.
Good going, you idiotic dingbats. I hope you're happy that your 2008 populist emotional outburst is wrecking the entire world.
Yep. Well, not exactly happy. But happier than I would have been with McCain/Palin or Romney.
It's about public safety! If you don't run red lights, you have nothing to worry about!
I did a right turn at a major intersection but stopped before I turned. When I proceeded, there was several strobe flashes. Scared the crap out of me, muzzle flashes? Heard no gun shots. Lightning? uh clear skies. Am I gonna get socked with a big fine and huge increase of insurance because camera made a mistake? So far it's been months and nothing in the mail (unless there is an outstanding FTA waiting for 10-29), but I don't have that car anymore (bought another recently). Will such strobe lights freak someone out and cause them to t-bone me? I don't travel though that intersection much but when I do there is not much of a choice.
mfwright@batnet.com
Not mentioned was how much $$ flowed to Obama campaign or the mayors war chest.
You can bet it this were a GOP city, the NYT would be all over this story for a year.