Cameras to Bust Speeders (Illinois)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | March 31, 2004 | Shamus Toomey

[RWR8189]

Radar-activated cameras would shoot photos of cars speeding through tollway work zones under a proposal from Gov. Blagojevich that also would hike fines for the speeders to as high as $1,000.

Four other states now use the cop-in-a-box technology to catch and ticket speeders, but Illinois would be the first to target highway work zones.

Forty-four people, including five road workers, were killed in Illinois work zones last year, state officials said. Two other highway workers were killed by drivers away from work zones in 2003, making it the deadliest construction season in at least five years.

The deaths launched a state task force and spurred Tuesday's proposals, which need to be approved by the General Assembly to take effect.

As part of the effort, the state on Tuesday unveiled a new "Keep Us Alive Drive 45" safety campaign, which uses bright orange ribbons to honor dead workers and remind people to watch out for the current workers.

"Before you get into your vehicle . . . think about the lives of others, the children who are left behind by reckless drivers, the husbands, the wives," said Anna Johnson. Her older sister, highway worker Tina Ball, was killed by an accused drunken driver last September in an Interstate 57 work zone.

"It just takes one split second to take the life of a hard-working person," Johnson said.

The governor's proposal would launch a pilot program to try out the speed-tracking cameras. Drivers going faster than 45 mph through construction zones when workers are present could activate a camera that photographs the car and license plate.

Similar to Chicago's system of catching red light runners on camera, the state would then mail a ticket to the car's owner. It would not be a moving violation but would carry a fine.

The governor moved to hike those fines Tuesday. Speeding through a work zone currently costs $200 for a first offense and $350 for subsequent tickets.

The new proposal would make the first offense a $500 ticket. Subsequent tickets would shoot to $1,000 apiece -- including $250 to fund more state troopers who would patrol the roads.

"Anybody who doesn't take these laws seriously will understand there are consequences from now on," Transportation Secretary Tim Martin said.

Several work zone changes don't need legislative approval and will take effect soon. They include:

*Placing plainclothes troopers with radar guns in construction vehicles to radio descriptions of speeding cars to troopers ahead.

*Spending $40,000 in grant money on 20 electronic flaggers that tell drivers to slow or stop. Each machine needs a worker to run it but allows the worker to stand several feet from the road.

*Installing large road signs that read "Hit a Worker, $10,000 fine, 14 yrs in jail." Last year's strategy of using children's names and handwriting on warning signs "evidently wasn't enough," said Martin.

[f zero]

One foot on the brake and one on the gas, hey!
Well, there's too much traffic, I can't pass, no!
So I tried my best illegal move
Well, baby, black and white come and touched my groove again!
Gonna write me up a 125
Post my face wanted dead or alive
Take my license, all that jive
I can't drive 55! Oh No!
Uh!
So I signed my name on number 24, hey!
Yeah the judge said, "Boy, just one more...
We're gonna throw your ass in the city joint"
Looked me in the eye, said, "You get my point?"
I said Yea!, Oh yea!
Write me up a 125
Post my face wanted dead or alive
Take my license, all that jive
I can't drive 55!
Oh, yea!
I can't drive 55!
I can't drive 55!
I can't drive 55!
I can't drive 55!
Uh!
-solo-
When I drive that slow, you know it's hard to steer.
And I can't get get my care out of second gear.
What used to take two hours now takes all day. Huh!
It took me 16 hours to get to L.A.
Gonna write me up a 125
Post my face wanted dead or alive
Take my license, all that jive
I can't drive 55!
No, no no,
I can't drive...
(I can't drive 55!)
I can't drive...
(I can't drive 55!)
I can't drive 55!

Sammy Hagar

[steveegg]

Guess I'm going to have to put on my sunglasses when I cross the border.

[Fudd]

Among several possible reactions I have to this is...

I remember driving several times through an Illinois "construction zone" that was miles and miles of orange barrels placed well off the shoulder, both lanes open, with not a single construction worker in sight. Will cameras have the common sense to realize this stretches the definition of "construction zone"?

[Kozak]

Might want to try "photoblocker"

[MineralMan]

Sounds like a good plan to me. I know people speed everywhere, but in a work zone?

One thing I do know: If you're following me in a work zone, you'll be going no faster than the speed limit in that zone. I don't have hundreds of dollars to pay fines with, and I couldn't deal with killing some guy working on the road.

Sorry.

[GAGOPSWEEPTOVICTORY]

Yet another revenue generating scheme brought to you by the State of Illinois under the guise of "safety." What a crock. Set the speed limit artifically low, snap pictures of cars driving with the flow of traffic, and ticket the registered owner -- not necessarily the speeder -- for exceeding the artifically low posted limit.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Make money owning the stocks of the companies offering the service.

ISNS...........IPIX..........

[MediaMole]

Can the cameras work fast enough to ticket every single driver in Illinois?

[steveegg]

Can the cameras work fast enough to ticket every single driver in Illinois?

Let's find out :-)

Seriesly, they're digital cameras, and probably set up to catch every last person streaming by, whether or not they're speeding, as long as SOMEBODY is speeding.

[ChinaThreat]

Here is a wonderful but true story:

A man in Florida received a photograph of himself and his car speeding through a redlight accompanied by a citation for appx $100.

In good humor the man returned the citation with a picture of a check for $100.

The police in good humor took a photograph of a pair of handcuffs and mailed it back.

A few months later the police received the citation once again with a picture of the man's expired work visa, a used Air Lingus ticket stub, and picture of this wily Irishman's middle finger.

Priceless.

[itsahoot]

Will cameras have the common sense to realize this stretches the definition of "construction zone"?

The cameras are revenue enhancers, they are operated on a commission basis, so do you think they will be kind?

[Henrietta]

"Similar to Chicago's system of catching red light runners on camera, the state would then mail a ticket to the car's owner. "

Hmmm...wonder what would happen if the registered owner were an LLC or a Corporation? Who would they ticket? (Hint, hint)

[MD_Willington_1976]

2 things are needed to defeat photo radar...

couple dozen eggs

sack of flour

Always happened back home in BC, photo radar vans got pelted with eggs and flour...

Anyone with photoshop can make photoradar tickets...and it's been proven in court.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Are you kidding? When they stand to make a bundle of money? In Tennessee several years ago, they had I-40 east of Nashville "under construction". For 17 miles they had the orange barrels and "Construction Zone" signs out but actual construction was limited to one 1/4 mile stretch.

[steveegg]

2 things are needed to defeat photo radar...

couple dozen eggs

sack of flour

Always happened back home in BC, photo radar vans got pelted with eggs and flour...

Not that I would advocate it, but my arm wouldn't trigger the camera :-)

[steveegg]

I remember driving several times through an Illinois "construction zone" that was miles and miles of orange barrels placed well off the shoulder, both lanes open, with not a single construction worker in sight. Will cameras have the common sense to realize this stretches the definition of "construction zone"?

Considering the traffic revenue center, er, court already has stretched it at least that far, nope.

[gorush]

If a camera gives a ticket to my speeding SUV, would I be liable?

[steveegg]

If a camera gives a ticket to my speeding SUV, would I be liable?

Good question, and not one that is as much a slam dunk as one would believe. After all, the eeeeeevillll SUV has a mind of its own. I wonder if the "manufacturer/deep pockets" rule would apply, or if the threat of the cops losing the money to buy their own SUVs is enough to push the liability back to you.

[Wurlitzer]

"I remember driving several times through an Illinois "construction zone" that was miles and miles of orange barrels placed well off the shoulder, both lanes open, with not a single construction worker in sight. Will cameras have the common sense to realize this stretches the definition of "construction zone"? "

Boy you have go that right Fudd! From Chicago to Rockford on I90 last year 50 miles of construction restrictions with only short sections actually under constructions but do the DOT people pull down the signs or pull back the barrels? NO!

Couple the 45 MPH with no one around with the obnoxious 40 Cent tolls every 10 to 15 miles and it was not a pleasant driving experience. The toll roads in the Chicago area are nothing but a dumping ground for another government jobs program. These stupid tolls create traffic jams, waste gas, are a danger when your fumbling for change at speed(if you ever get up to speed). Gas taxes are supposed to pay for the roads not government troll er toll collectors stopping you every 10 miles.