Traffic Camera Firm Admits Bribing Officials

Chicago, of course, and elsewhere

Chicago, Illinois is not be the only city where employees of Redflex Traffic Systems have bribed US officials. In a conference call with shareholders on Tuesday, the Australian photo enforcement firm's interim chairman, Michael McConnell, made the admission as he vowed to restore the "ethical compass" of Redflex.

"It's a fair question to say if this was going on in Chicago, might it have been going on somewhere else," McConnell told investors on Tuesday. "We found two other geographies that raise concern, and those investigations are considerably smaller than the one just completed. We expect that work to be done—with a final report on all their investigative activities—no later than the end of March."

Redflex lost the world's largest red light camera contract after a Chicago Tribune investigation revealed a Redflex lobbyist provided gifts to a Chicago contracting official in return for approval of the deal. Loss of the business in the Windy City will cost the firm 13.6 percent of its total income.