Northside Republican Demands Halt To Chicago’s Speed Cameras
In light of a growing scandal involving the vendor for Chicago’s red light camera program, Northside Republican Committeeman Scott Davis wants to put the brakes on the city’s new speed camera program. More »
Chicagoans Fight Back Against Red Light, Speed Cameras
Stephen Hinton doesn’t like Chicago’s red light cameras. Over the years, like the hundreds of thousands of other drivers who are issued RLC tickets every year, the 49-year old Chatham resident has More »
Illinois Secretary Of State White Announces Results Of Disability Parking Abuse Crackdown
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White recently announced his department’s police force issued 166 citations in its annual statewide crackdown on disability parking abuse. Each year, beginning on Black Friday, November 23rd More »
Chicago Tonight Panel Discusses Remix Of Parking Meter Deal
Yeah, this aired a few weeks ago, but we’ve been too distracted to remember to post this video of a discussion on Mayor Emanuel’s proposed renegotiated meter lease deal on the always enlightening Chicago Tonight.
The producers invited the City of Chicago’s Corporation Counsel Stephen Patton, World Business Chicago Vice-Chair Michael Sacks, Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) and some other doofus who writes for a local website called The Expired Meter to debate the proposal.
Tribune Spotlights Building Tensions Between Drivers, Bikers
Tensions are rising between Chicago drivers and bike riders, according to the Chicago Tribune.
From what could have been a feature story in last month’s edition of Duh! Magazine, the Tribune assigned a reporter to interview drivers and bike riders about the recent boom in protected bike lanes and potential changes to the municipal code which would increase fines for dooring bikers.
Unsurprisingly, the drivers interviewed were frustrated with the behavior of some belligerent bikers, while bikers voiced anger at some overly aggressive drivers.
Western-Belmont Overpass Demolition Still On Hold
The Western Avenue Overpass at Belmont & Clybourn. Photo credit Patty Wetli/DNA Info.
It’s been nearly four years since the demolition of the Western Avenue Overpassover Belmont Avenue in the Roscoe Village neighborhood was originally announced.
And it may be a few more years before the project becomes a reality says DNA Info Chicago.
But since then, the structure still remains and the project remains unfunded and still in the design phase with no concrete date to actually begin dismantling the roadway behemoth, according to DNA Info Chicago.
NTSB Pushing For Stricter DUI Blood Alcohol Levels
Graphic: NTSB
On Tuesday, the National Transportation Safety Board announced its recommendation for states to lower the blood alcohol content (BAC) threshold for DUI from the current 0.08 to 0.05.
The NTSB says research shows that impairment can begin at a blood alcohol level as low as 0.05, although, the NTSB did not name or cite any specific research.
“The research clearly shows that drivers with a BAC above 0.05 are impaired and at a significantly greater risk of being involved in a crash where someone is killed or injured,” said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman on Tuesday.
The organization believes lower the BAC will reduce alcohol related crashes and deaths.
City Extends Bid Deadline For Red Light Camera Contract–Again
Chicago’s Department of Procurement Services is extending the deadline for potential vendors to submit bids for a fourth time.
The new deadline listed in a bid addendum dated May 10th, is now May 24th.
The City was confident its original deadline of April 16th, would give them ample time for a review of the bids, short list two potential vendors for pilot tests, perform a 30-day pilot, select a winning vendor and negotiate a contract by July 31st–when the current contract with Redflex Traffic Systems was supposed to expire.
A previous delay forced the City to admit it could not meet the July 31st deadline and extend the scandal plagued Redflex’s contract indefinitely until a new vendor could be selected and can transition to the new RLC system.
New Report Casts Doubt On Safety Claims Of City’s Red Light Camera Program
For years, opponents of Chicago’s red light cameras have argued the program was not based on improving traffic safety, but on generating tens of millions of dollars in annual revenue.
Critics say, a report released Tuesday by the Chicago Inspector General’s Office backs up their claims and, according to one alderman, undermines the basis for the program’s existence.
“Our audit uncovered little evidence that the overarching program strategy, guidelines, or appropriate metrics are being used to ensure the [Red Light Camera] program is being executed to the best benefit of the City or the general public,” the report summarized.
“Specifically, we found a lack of basic record keeping and an alarming lack of analysis for an ongoing program that costs tens of millions of dollars a year and generates tens of millions more in revenue.”
The inspector general’s office started an audit of the city’s extensive red light camera program earlier this year in response to revelations of an internal investigation by current vendor Redflex Traffic Systems. That investigation, headed by former Inspector General David Hoffman, alleges employees for Redflex may have bribed the former city official overseeing the city’s RLC program.
Read more at DNA Info Chicago.
Ald. Reilly Looks For Alternatives To Parking Meter Deal Remix
Ald. Brendan Reilly at City Hall. Photo credit: Ted Cox/DNA Info Chicago.
42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly is fighting back against Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to revamp Chicago’s infamous parking meter lease deal and looking for viable alternatives on his own.
On Monday, he sent an email newsletter to constituents laying out his views on the matter.
Reilly has a lot to dislike about the Mayor’s plan as it includes increasing the hours meters must be fed in a majority of his ward three hours from the current 9 PM to midnight.
As part of the renegotiated deal with Chicago Parking Meters, LLC, Emanuel is asking for free Sunday parking in the neighborhoods allegedly in exchange for an additional hour of meter enforcement Monday through Saturday until 10 PM, and of course the extra three hours in River North.
Driver Tries To Avoid Parking Tickets By Reporting Car Stolen
The story seems a bit convoluted, but according to Tinley Park Police, a driver reported his car stolen in order to get out of paying for some parking tickets.
The Chicago Tribune has a story about a car nearly getting towed out of a parking lot in the suburbs because local police thought it was stolen. Before the car got hooked up and towed away, the driver came back to the car and laid out a crazy story.
The driver, according to the newspaper account, reported this car stolen because the guy he sold it to was racking up tickets on it and he was trying to get the new owner to change the registration.
This story doesn’t make sense. Why would the driver be driving this vehicle if he sold this particular car to a friend?!? It’s all quite confusing.
Parking Meter Lease Deal Remix Getting Poor Reviews
An old school parking meter from before the notorious Chicago parking meter lease came into being in 2008 adds its two cents.
The early results are in, and the overwhelming consensus is that Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s remix of the infamous Chicago parking meter lease deal is a bad idea.
So far, outside of a handful of politicians, nobody supports the recently announced renegotiation of the 75 year meter lease.
While most voices support the Mayor’s efforts in reducing the payouts to CPM for street closures and alleged changes to the meter system’s value, it seems the Mayor’s free Sunday parking proposal is a non starter.
That’s probably because the trade off is having to feed meters until 10 PM instead of the current 9 PM, while drivers in River North may have to plunk down quarters to park until midnight.
The Chicago Tribune editorial board poses the question, if Chicago Parking Meters, LLC supports the deal, shouldn’t we be worried?
The Trib, speaking directly to city council members, pleads:
Mayor Proposes Stiffer Fines For Dooring, Bike Violations
At Wednesday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Rahm Emanuel introduced a biking related ordinance which affects both motorists and bike riders according to DNA Info Chicago.
If the ordinance gets passed, drivers who “door” a cyclist would face fines up to $1000. Dooring is when a driver or passenger accidentally opens up a car door into the path of a bicyclist riding by. Over 250 dooring incidents were reported in Chicago last year. Dooring incidents often lead to injury or even death in some cases.
Drivers who leave a door open in traffic could also be fined $300 in the Mayor’s new proposal.
The other component of Emanuel’s ordinance would be raising fines for bike riders who disobey traffic laws from the current $25 to $50 to $200 per incident. Although, traffic violations for bike riders are rarely enforced.
But the Mayor is talking a bit tougher, telling DNA Info:
