Authorities plan to solicit bids to expand the automated enforcement program this summer at up to 20 more intersections with a history of crashes linked to red-light violations, according to Chicago transportation and police officials.

Officials said it is all too common that when a light turns yellow, cars speed up, and that when it turns red, several more cars race through. After years of attempts at tougher enforcement, authorities are turning to technology to show drivers that punishment will be consistent and that a red light really means stop. The camera also records left-turn violators.

More than 1,000 cars and trucks were videotaped running through red traffic signals since late April at each of the two test locations--Peterson and Western Avenues on the Far North Side and 55th Street and Western on the Southwest Side, according to the Chicago Department of Transportation.

"Some of the drivers raced through more than 2 seconds after the light turned red and cross traffic that had the green light was already moving through the intersection," said Chicago Transportation Commissioner Miguel d'Escoto. He said he witnessed seven violations in one hour while he was at 55th Street and Western Avenue."