Corruption: Red-light Camera Company Bribes City Official With Campaign Donations

By: Laura Meyers

Abuse of authority at its finest.

The former CEO of Redflex Traffic Systems Inc., a red light camera company, recently pleaded guilty to a bribery charges with city government officials in Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio.

Karen Finley, the firm’s former chief executive, admitted that she was part of a scheme in which the camera company made campaign contributions to elected public officials in Columbus and Cincinnati in exchange for maintaining red-light camera contracts.

Currently, no charges have been filed against the public officials who participated in the deal.

The bribes began in 2005 and totaled $30,000, according to the plea.

Since the scandal, Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel has fired the company. With the help of Redflex Traffic Systems, however, the city of Chicago has managed to collect over $500 million in traffic fines.

It’s all for “public safety,” guys.

And the city Columbus turned off its 44 cameras in March after news of the corruption. Now, a new state law requires a police officer to be posted at every intersection where a camera is installed.

“Trust the government,” they said. “They’re only looking out for your best interests,” they said.

Pssshaw.