Opening statements are expected in the federal trial of an ex-Chicago transportation official accused of accepting cash and gifts to steer over $100 million in red-light camera contracts to a Phoenix-based company.
The sides who will deliver openings Wednesday spent the first two days of the week on jury selection. Among the questions for would-be jurors was whether they'd ever been ticketed by red-light cameras. But Judge Virginia Kendall also told them the case isn't about the fairness of such systems.
John Bills is accused of fixing a key commission vote to secure an initial deal for Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. in 2003. Redflex later signed other deals for Chicago's first red-light enforcement program.
Chicago canceled Redflex's contract in 2013 following Chicago Tribune reports on the alleged bribery scheme.
