Proposed Speed Camera Enforcement Could Generate Millions For Cash Strapped Chicago
Law Could Make Chicago Speed Camera Capital Of U.S.
It’s for the children.
That’s the message the city was trying to sell at a press conference on Thursday where Chicago Public School CEO Jean-Claude Brizard and Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy got behind an effort to swing public support behind utilizing the city’s red light cameras to issue tickets for speeding. With very minor adjustments, Chicago’s current RLC’s could be used to enforce speeding violations in addition to issuing red light camera tickets.
“One-third of Chicago children walk to school each day, and we must do everything we can to ensure they get there safely,” said Brizard at UIC College Prep High School. “This new legislation will help us take additional steps to reduce reckless driving and enhance school environments so that they are safe for students and staff, which is vital for teaching and learning.”
Mayor Emanuel is pushing for changes to the state’s red light camera legislation that would allow Chicago to begin using red light cameras to now enforce speeding violations.
“We must do everything we can to ensure the safety of our children,” said McCarthy. “Using Automated Speed Enforcement near schools will not only help crack down on dangerous traffic violators who put our children in harm’s way as they travel to and from school, but it can also be a useful tool to utilize in violent crime investigations. This technology is about more than just cameras – it’s about saving lives and preventing injuries.”
According to a report from the Chicago Department of Transportation, based on data from 2005-2009, 84% of all pedestrian crashes occur within a quarter mile of a school or a park. During that same time, the city says there were 861 crashes involving children during school arrival and dismissal times within that same quarter mile radius from a school.
It’s the city’s hope that red light camera equipped intersections within a quarter mile of schools or parks can be utilized to issue speeding tickets to ostensibly begin reducing crashes involving pedestrians. Studies show that at 30 mph, 55% of pedestrian involved in a crash survive, but at 40 mph there’s only a 15% survival rate. The city’s stated goal is to make things safer for pedestrians.
Critics Skeptical Of Plan
“Chicago has yet to publish a valid peer reviewed study that proves red light cameras improve safety,” says Barnet Fagel a local spokesperson for the National Motorist Association and outspoken critic of Chicago’s RLC program. “And now they want to put in speed cameras?”
Fagel also questions the accuracy of this technology.
“Who’s going to certify the accuracy of these speed cameras?” Fagel asked. “You have to have certified for officer generated speeding tickets. LIDAR or radar guns used by police have to be certified once a year.”
While this proposed enforcement program is being pitched under the auspices of improving safety around schools, unlike a traditional school zone where the speed limit is dropped while school is in session and children are present, the city’s program would be enforcing 24 hours a day. Enforcement would continue even when school was out.
“It would still be enforced (after the school day was over),” says Mayor’s Office spokesperson Jennifer Martinez. “Remember there are extended school hours, summer programs, after school programs.”
In addition, the current proposed legislation will also allow for the city to utilize mobile speed enforcement units adjacent to schools or around schools which are not close to intersections which currently have red light cameras. Despite this possibility, Martinez contends Chicago is more interested in utilizing the speed enforcement functionality of the city’s current red light cameras.
Vast Majority Of City’s Red Light Cameras Will Be Utilized
While the city is downplaying the size and scope of this enforcement by saying speed enforcement will be restricted to school and park zones, according to Martinez a minimum of 135 intersections (270 cameras) or 71% of Chicago’s 191 intersections monitored by red light cameras, as that’s the number which are within a quarter mile of a school.
Martinez acknowledged this number will increase as another 107 RLC intersections (214 cameras) fall within a quarter mile of a park.
While there is some duplication between intersections which are within both these defined school or park zones, ultimately the percentage of Chicago’s red light cameras doing double duty as speed cameras will grow.
Speed Camera Capital Of The U.S.
While speed cameras are utilized widely all over Europe, this profliferation of this automated enforcement technology is not very robust in the U.S. There are a few exceptions. This includes Baltimore, MD with 75 fixed speed cameras and four portable units which change location regularly. Washington, DC has 19 fixed cameras and a few mobile units which patrol a myriad of locations and also has 52 separate red light camera intersections. The other large automated speed camera program of note is Montgomery County, Maryland which has 115 speed camera locations county wide.
But if Chicago is allowed to utilize the speed enforcement functionality of their red light cameras, it will immediately have the largest automated speed camera enforcement program in the entire nation.
Millions and Millions
Currently, there is no proposed threshold for how many miles per hour over a road’s speed limit that would trigger a violation.
“CDOT is still looking into it,” explains Martinez. “It’s really preliminary at this point. Taking it to Springfield is the first step. The next step is taking it to our city council.”
Shawn Dow, from Arizona Campaign for Liberty, who has helped defeat camera enforcement programs all over his state says the that threshold could be a wide range of speeds.
“It goes from one mile per hour to 11 miles per hour,” explains Dow. “It’s whatever the city council decides. Generally, in school zones it’s 1-6 miles per hour over the limit.”
But depending on how low the speed threshold is defined in the state law and/or the Chicago City Council, the city stands to generate tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
A study of seven red light camera intersections tracked 1.5 million vehicles and captured over 360,000 drivers (25%) violating the 30 mph speed limit. If just those speeding drivers were mailed the traditional $100 fine, it would rake in $36 million into Chicago’s nearly depleted coffers. If 75% or more of Chicago’s 190 intersections were mailing speeders $100 violation notices, the revenue could be staggering–revenue that could help Mayor Emanuel fill the city’s massive budget deficit.
Cook County Campaign for Liberty Coordinator Scott Davis, who had spearheaded anti-red light camera protests in Chicago and around Cook County last year seemed stunned by Chicago’s move to expand into automated speed camera enforcement.
“They’re broke and this is about profits,” Davis angrily said. “Profits for Redflex (the company that operates Chicago’s RLC system) and revenue for a city that’s broke because it can’t live within it’s means.”
This proposed legislation, HB385 was introduced by Speaker of the House Michael Madigan at the behest of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, is slated to be introduced in the Illinois General Assembly’s fall veto session which begins next week.
SO whose firm with clout gets the contract to calibrate the cameras to be 100% accurate 100% of the time?
Who at Walsh is going to get the contract to install?
Who has the clout to start a special unit to review these theoretical tickets at the OEMC? Because Speeding is a ILCS violation, they are not legally able to be reviewed by a civillian.
Would they even be able to enforce this? Would it be legal? By that I mean under RLC you are allowed to ticket the owner of the vehicle, not necessarily the driver. But for speeding tickets don’t they need to prove you are the actual driver? I suppose they would have to get a photo of your face (kind of reminds me of the vans that park in construction zones taking pictures of speeders, but at least those were manned by a police officer). Sounds like it wouldn’t hold up in court.
The speed limit law is already incorporated into city ordinance (9-12-070). What’s to stop the city from altering the ordinance to allow for speed camera tickets to be reviewed by a civilian? (and what sworn officers are at OEMC anyway, they’re all civilian)
What can be done to stop this? We need to ACT now! Email state legislators and tell them to not vote to allow this money grab to happen!
If it’s “for the children” why were school crossing guards let go?
If it’s “for the children” why were school crossing guards let go? It’s Chicago, they don’t have follow the stinking law! Well done Geek!
Doc….the Crossing Guards have no Enforcement ability. Whose going to sit still while a crossing guard tries to remember how to write a ticket?
Traffic Aides have more authority…and thats not saying much.
Anonymous, the big picture is child safety, not just handing out tickets. School crossing guards increase safety while cameras take pictures and issue invoices. Show just one example where a traffic camera saved a life, prevented a crash or arrested a hit and run driver, just one.
“While this proposed enforcement program is being pitched under the auspices of improving safety around schools, unlike a traditional school zone where the speed limit is dropped while school is in session and children are present, the city’s program would be enforcing 24 hours a day. Enforcement would continue even when school was out.”
School zone speed limit 24 HOURS A DAY!!??!!??
John….lets set aside the issue for a moment…
People drive way too fast in this damn city. I’ve watched morons on their cell phones doing 40 down a Residential street that is barely wide enough for 2 way traffic and the cars that park on it. And don’t get me started on Cab Drivers and Bus Drivers…
It would be nice if people would drive responsibly….But they don’t.
I agree that SOME people drive too fast in this city. And I think that cabs are the worst offenders as a group. But wouldn’t a better option be to just add more speed bumps around the schools? You will wreck your car if you go flying over one of those. I think as citizens, we need to minimize governments’ imposition of electronic devices to monitor our behavior, actions, etc. It’s just too big brotherish.
Correct JohnD1,
The RLCs within 1/4 mile of schools would be doing red light camera AND speed camera enforcement 24 hours a day. NOT just during school hours.
All due respect to Mike and Doc…
Child Safety isn’t the reason.
Money is.
Because I highly doubt that the City is going to shut these cameras off when class is out.
Take redex out of the equation and I might be able to stomach these types of cameras in chicago.
Drew,
I think we are all in agreement. It’s about revenue.
Let me relay this. When I take my kids to school in the morning–and I pass at least 3 RLCs–there’s no way in hell I could be speeding due to all the traffic.
It would be nearly impossible unless I wanted to ram my car into the back of someone else a few feet ahead of me.
I don’t ever see anyone speeding that time of day because it’s physically impossible–at least where the cameras are.
BTW, I was at the IACP convention at McCormick Place yesterday and RedFlex was there with a giant booth talking about how much safer Chicago is (traffic-wise obviously) and how their systems are dual redlight/speed cameras. They did let slip that there’s the possibility that they may install the red light cameras/speed cameras on LSD…
Awful.
It is just never enough, is it? Fees, taxes, vehicle stickers, Cook County taxes, red light cameras, speed cameras and on and on and on and on.
I’ve loved my time here. But this is finally getting to be enough. Not only is it one thing to constantly find ways of increasing revenue, its an absolute slap in the face when government spending doesn’t shrink one bit. We are expected to just keep paying while they keep spending.
And don’t give me this “for the kids” garbage any longer. They think we’re all morons. Thing, is enough voters are big enough morons to buy garbage like this.
The thinking people are the ones who will leave the more they squeeze our wallets.
I should add that the speed limits are likely set too low as well. This just makes it worse. If the road should be 40mph based on engineering, speed studies, natural traffic flow, etc and is set at 25-30, it just makes speed cameras that much worse.
Kinda like having to drive 55mph on I355 at 11pm at night. It is PAINFUL. Yet you’re at risk for a ticket if you go over, despite being one of only a few cars on the road. Drive in bumper to bumper and you can go 75-80 all day.
Which is truly more dangerous?
So MAYBE I could accept more speed cameras 1) if the speed limits were set properly and not by some suit in city hall that doesn’t know 2 beans about traffic engineering, and 2) the fines were reduced to reasonable levels. $100+ for going 35 in a 30 is outrageous. Much like $375 minimum fine in a 45mph construction zone at 2am with no workers is outrageous.
Its all a money grab. Making criminals out of people who are not. Honestly, if 90%+ of traffic is violating a speed limit, chances are the speed limit is not properly set.
You know what the red light cameras have begun to encourage me to do? Take side streets around the intersections. Not because I plan to blow the lights, but because I don’t have any faith that I can actually stop in the 3 seconds that they are timed to. I got a red light ticket a month ago on Canal and Roosevelt, because it was raining, and if I had tried to brake, I simply would have slid through the intersection, and that is not a defense, so I’m screwed. The speed cameras will force me to do the same – I’ll just go through neighborhoods to avoid them. So I am actually creating more traffic in neighborhoods because of this.
And by the way, I know its a law that all red light cameras have to be listed on the cities website, but is it a law that all intersections have to be marked with a sign at the intersection? I see the signs, but wonder if its a law. I’m assuming it is, otherwise the city wouldn’t give that warning.
I’m sure the “due process” for speed cameras will be the same as for red-light cameras. Non-existent.
In response to Greg: I’m with you there, but I now take different routes altogether. I once drove through 79th/Stony Island/South Chicago but I stopped doing so because I became too stressed to take that route. I would only take that route if my life depended on it, but since it doesn’t, I’ll stick to driving on Yates Blvd (St?)or Exchange on my way over to 63rd St…
The brake scenario happened to me too, but I was lucky not to be on the wrong side of the intersection (79th/Jeffery) when it happened. I tried to brake and my car literally stopped INTO the intersection due to the slpiiery roads, causing traffic to stop and wait until I continued on my not-so-merry way…
And I’m sincerely hoping that the flash I saw today was a figment from my imagination, I, like almost everyone in Chicago, don’t need more things to worry about…
More Redlights in my opinion “Will not ensure the the safety of our school children” It is another tactic to bring revenue to the City Of Chicago and by the way don’t forget about decrease of Chicago Police Force on the streets. ROBOCOPS Really!?! Unfortunately, some people live in Chicago and others have to drive in and/or thru Chicago at one time or another.