Redflex Traffic Systems is looking to get back into good graces of the Chicago public. Waters became muddied between Redflex and the city of 2.7 million that they provide red light cameras for, when a bribery scandal broke out in 2013. These criminal and civil matters almost brought down the international business who still provides speed enforcement services globally.
In hopes to clean their slate, Redflex has agreed to pay the city of Chicago $20 million dollars. By the end of this year, they will pay the home of the Bulls $10 million. From there on, they will continue to pay annual installments until the end of 2023.
Upon news of the bribery scandal with Chicago city employees over a contract for photo enforcement, the U.S. Department of Justice prosecuted individual employees for the misconduct, rather than the company itself. This includes the ex-Redflex CEO, Karen Finley. Finley was levied with a sentence of 30 months in prison. She was also ordered to pay $2 million in restitution.
Hoping to prove the company is turning over a new leaf, new CEO and President, Michael Finn, stepped up to the plate in June 2015 to clean up the company’s image. The first step was to implement this $20 million deal.
The CEO and President stated, “It was a validation that there’s a new Redflex that’s now free to meet the needs of our customers. We don’t have a cloud hanging over our head.” His goal is simple. He wants the world to know that Redflex is a new company going forward. Finn touted, “Because of our identification, cooperation, and remediation, we entered into a noh-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. We’ve created an industry best compliance practice with safeguards in place to prevent this from ever happening again.”
Looking ahead into the future, Redflex continues to rollout back-office services for the Lidar/speed cameras that police departments utilize. Instead putting officers into the line of fire, Redflex will handle processing the tickets.
“We’re basically a public safety company,” Finn proudly continued. In implementing their new changes, Redflex hopes to see a reduction in collisions and deaths, as well money spent. “This can help cities capture violators or speeders but also catch cars with Silver Alerts or Amber Alerts and other types of security.”
