Appeals court OKs Chicago traffic cameras

A ruling by a federal appeals court will allow the city of Chicago to expand the use mounted cameras to photograph cars that run red lights.

The 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Monday it is not a violation of equal protection or due process -- as claimed by three plaintiffs -- to issue tickets to license plate holders, even though somebody else was driving the car caught on camera running a red light.

In its opinion, the court said a system of photographic evidence reduces the costs of law enforcement and increases the proportion of all traffic offenses detected.

The city of Chicago has installed 248 cameras at 123 accident-prone intersections since 2003, with 50 more intersections planned for 2009.

Motorists caught on camera running red lights receive photographs of the violation and are ticketed through the mail.