Mayoral candidates call for end to Chicago's red light cameras

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Two mayoral candidates want Chicago's red light cameras gone and Jesus "Chuy" Garcia is calling for an immediate suspension of the program claiming they do nothing to make intersections safer.

Garcia met with reporters Sunday at Belmont and Lake Shore Drive, a spot that has red light cameras.

Garcia wants an independent study that documents the safety value of red light cameras.

"The simple fact is that all the money that was received from the red light tickets made this administration blind to their impact on drivers and residents," Garcia said.

Mayoral candidate Bob Fioretti agrees with Garcia, saying in a statement Sunday that when something doesn't work the city should phase it out.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office released a statement saying: "Commissioner Garcia must explain to the public why he accepted a $1,500 donation from SafeSpeed, a red light camera operator company, on March 10, 2014 and voted to approve their installation of a red light camera the very next day."

Garcia disputes Emanuel's claim.