Thirty-five-watt light bulbs may become the Police Department’s biggest ally in catching red-light violators at two troublesome Burnsville intersections. Police and state transportation officials plan to install “white lights” on traffic signals at Highway 13/ County Road 5 and Highway 13/County Road 11. The white light is wired into the red circuit of the signal head and activated when the traffic light turns red. The white light is behind the signal light. From various “downstream” vantage points, officers can see vehicles going through the intersection when the white light is on. Busted.

‘White lights’ will give cops new tool for catching red-light violators

This letter to Chicagoist draws attention to a major human factors problem in urban traffic law enforcement: posting of speed limits at the borders of city limits.

“Dear Chicagoist, I’ve been driving around Chicago for a couple years and I can’t recall seeing a single speed limit sign on any city streets. Is there a standard speed limit within the city or are we all allowed to drive like cabbies out there?”

Ask Chicagoist: What’s the Speed Limit?