That’s essentially what Mayor Rahm Emanuel told reporters Thursday in regards to moving forward with the city’s planned speed camera enforcement program.

Emanuel was asked at a press conference whether the city should half implementation of the speed camera program due to all the controversy surrounding the city’s red light cameras.

“They’re totally unrelated,” Emanuel said, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Multiple investigations are looking into whether Redflex Traffic Systems may have bribed the city official overseeing the RLC program for the past 10 years. The company’s own investigation believes it was bribery and has parted way with several managers and has filed a lawsuit against one former employee.

Redflex has been prohibited by the city from renewing the red light camera contract they’ve held for the past 10 years, and were banned from bidding on the speed camera contract.

Here’s the Chicago Tribune’s full story, “Emanuel: No need to halt speed cameras because of red-light scandal.”

A technician installs an ATS speed camera in the 6500 block of north Western Ave. for pilot testing this past November

Chicago is now one more step closer to having speed cameras on its streets as the city’s Procurement Services Department announced its choice for a vendor late Friday.

According to Procurement Services Department spokesperson Bill McCaffrey, the city’s evaluation committee, which included nine voting members from city departments and one technical adviser without a vote, unanimously recommended American Traffic Solutions to be that provider.

“This recommendation was made for a variety of reasons, including the performance of its camera system and technology, cost, the extent and depth of data that can be collected, and its user-friendly web site,” said McCaffrey in a statement.

ATS spokesperson Charles Territo said his team had put a lot of work into the bid and was happy their company was chosen.

“We’re excited to have an opportunity to partner with the City of Chicago on this important public safety initiative,” said Territo.

Read more at DNA Info Chicago.

A sign warns drivers of red light camera enforcement at Foster & Broadway

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.

A report by the Chicago Tribune last week revealed more allegations of misconduct by Redflex Traffic Systems employees, where the former Deputy Commissioner for the Chicago Department of Transportation overseeing the RLC program was provided free trips and hotel accommodations to the Superbowl and other sporting events.

After the most recent revelations, Mayor Rahm Emanuel barred the firm from bidding on the new red light camera contract coming up for bid–a contract the Redflex has held since the program’s inception in 2003.

However, the decision to award the contract for the city’s newest expansion of automated traffic enforcement, speed cameras, is imminent. And while Redflex was also barred from bidding on the speed camera contract, Davis feels the recent scandal surrounding red light cameras demonstrates the city has no business expanding this type of enforcement and wants the Mayor and City Council to stop it from moving forward.

“I’m just calling on the Mayor and the City Council to repeal a speed camera ordinance that it unwanted by the citizens of Chicago,” says Davis, Republican Committeeman for the 44th Ward. “There is still time for the City Council and the Mayor to do the right thing. The story last week shows this type of (automated camera) enforcement is about contracts, clout and corruption. It’s the typical Chicago machine story we see over and over. It should be a big warning not to move forward with the speed camera program.”

The ordinance allowing speed camera enforcement passed last April 33-14, despite heavy public opposition and is expected to generate between $20-$30 million in revenue for the city in 2013.

It’s this multi-million dollar revenue estimate and the over $330 million generated by the city’s RLC program that makes Davis believe the speed camera program is primarily about money, not safety.

“There’s no way to prove it’s (speed cameras) about safety,” said Davis. “It’s impossible to measure the success of a program like this–it’s just about money. More and more people are seeing it for what is is–a scam.”

The city recently ended a month long test of the speed camera technology of two finalists for the contract on January 4th and is in the process of determining which company’s system would work best.

But, according to Richard Diamond, publisher The Newspaper.com, a national news website covering the politics of driving issues, Redflex along with Affilated Computer Services (recently acquired by Xerox) and American Traffic Solutions (ATS), the two companies vying for the city’s speed camera contract, all have a history of ethically challenged behavior.

“Redflex has done this before–we reported about how Redflex put up a Tennessee police chief at the Ritz-Carlton in return for his favorable testimony in court,” said Diamond. “ATS routinely hosts and entertains local officials from around the country at “training” sessions in Phoenix. Two cops in Canada were put on trial after ACS (now Xerox) gave them hockey tickets and trips in return for their favorable recommendation on the contract. One of the officers even had an affair with an ACS employee.”

Charges against the two Edmonton, Canada policemen were ultimately dismissed.

There’s also been questions surrounding the reliability of ACS/Xerox’s technology.

Currently, state officials in Maryland are investigating troubling issues with the speed camera program operated by ACS/Xerox according to Diamond’s website. An audit of the program showed 56% of the photographs supplied by the company as evidence were unreadable. The company also admitted this past December that 5.6% of the speed camera violations it issued to drivers in Baltimore, MD were erroneous.

American Traffic Solutions has been facing its own challenges of late. ATS and Redflex, along with 18 New Jersey municipalities are defendants in a class action lawsuit claiming over $10.2 million in illegal citations were issued. ATS recently agreed to partially refund the traffic camera fines of New Jersey drivers to the tune of $4.2 million, in a suit that claims the municipalities failed to file legally required traffic studies and have a state required six month equipment inspection. ATS denied any wrongdoing but entered into the agreement in a seemingly strategic move to limit their liability in this particular lawsuit.

Chicago’s Childrens’ Safety Zone ordinance states when a camera becomes operational drivers will receive a warning for their first offense, but subsequent violations will cost drivers exceeding the speed limit between 6-10 mph $35 or $100 for motorists exceeding the speed limit by over 11 mph. The cameras will operate within 1/8 of a mile of a school or park. Mayor Emanuel has contended from the idea’s inception the program was aimed at saving the lives and reducing serious injuries of children due to crashes.

“The victims we’re trying to protect are the children,” said Emanuel at a press conference unveiling the speed camera concept just over a year ago.

“How is taking money from working families helping children?” said Davis about these fines and scoffing at the Mayor contention speed cameras will save the lives of children. “You’re taking food off the tables of poor and working class people. Plus you’re hurting local business by taking money–millions of dollars–out of the economy. Small business will be hurt by this tax. It’s just legal plunder.”

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 received his share of those $100 tickets being photographed entering an intersection when the traffic light had turned red.

But Hinton says it was the third, and most recent RLC ticket he received at 95th and Stony Island about a month ago that was at least part of the inspiration for starting an online petition to rid Chicago of the cameras.

“I see the glaring disservice the red light cameras do to the citizens of Chicago,” said Hinton when asked why he started the petition. “It’s unfairly taking advantage of the citizens of Chicago.”

Because drivers can only fight their tickets in-person Monday through Friday, Hinton says it’s difficult for the typical working Chicagoan to take time away from work to try to contest these violations. According to Hinton, the difficulty in contesting these tickets forces drivers to pay the fines before they double to $200.

The Windy City is the red light camera capital of the U.S., with 384 cameras shooting video and still photographs at 191 separate intersections around the city while generating revenues exceeding $60 million in a typical year.

“It’s a just an added tax–this is another way to generate revenue,” says Hinton. What was it? $61 million in 2010? It’ s unreal for them to present it as a safety measure and reap the benefits of that revenue.”

But Hinton is not the only one working to rid the city of automated traffic camera enforcement.

Read more at DNA Info Chicago.

In the 1400 block of West Division Street, a camera armed with a bright flash unit posted outside the Near North Montessori School and across the street from Holy Trinity High School, flashed and lit up the street times multiple times just before 7 PM, when enforcement would end if a speed camera was installed permanently.

The testing was conducted at four locations throughout Chicago in an effort for the city’s Department of Procurement Services to select the best speed camera vendor.

Now, the waiting begins as the results from the testing enter an evaluation phase. The city is not ready to say when a decision on the contract will be announced, nor when cameras from the eventual contract winner will start being installed. In addition, the city will not release test data, like the number of speeding violations captured by the cameras during the month long period, until the contract is awarded.

“The city is in the middle of a competitive bid process, and we do not produce interim results or other indicators of how bidders compare to each other until the process is complete and a vendor has been selected,” said city spokesperson Bill McCaffrey in an email statement. “As you may know, our procurement process is structured to be consistent with all state-mandated purchasing laws. Illinois FOIA law – one of the strictest in the nation – specifically recognizes the need for governments to exempt certain documents related to ongoing contract bids and negotiations. The law recognizes the public interest and taxpayer interest in ensuring the integrity of a competitive process is preserved until a contract is negotiated. At that point, the public will have full scrutiny to determine the appropriateness of the selection and process. If that process was not appropriate in any way, the city has the right to terminate a contract.

Earlier this year, Chicago Department of Transportation officials were hoping to have the first working speed cameras deployed sometime in the first quarter of 2013. The city budget is already counting on $20-$30 million in speed camera revenue to try and help the city budget from sliding further into the red.

According to McCaffrey the city is in what can be called a quiet period to evaluate the data, select the winning vendor and negotiate price and terms with that eventual vendor.

“The evaluation criteria were explicitly laid out in the bidding documents. I can assure you that we will disclose every step of the evaluation process used to identify a vendor for the children’s safety zone program once that process is complete. We are confident in our process and the results will speak for themselves,” explained McCaffrey.

Two vendors, American Traffic Solutions and ACS (Xerox) each had two camera locations during the  testing. The testing period began December 3rd and ended January 3rd and took place at the following four locations:

• McKinley Park, at approximately 2223 W. Pershing Road
• Warren Park, at approximately 6541 N. Western Ave
• Dulles Elementary School, at approximately 6340 S. King Drive
• Near North Montessori School, at approximately 1446 W. Division

No violations were issued to drivers during the test period, but when the city’s speed camera program becomes operational drivers will receive a warning for their first offense, subsequent violations will cost drivers exceeding the speed limit between 6-10 mph $35 or $100 for motorists exceeding the speed limit by over 11 mph. Enforcement will be from 7 AM to 7 PM, Monday through Friday surrounding child safety zones within 1/8 of a mile from schools and parks.

All the camera units used during the testing process will be removed by the vendors.

Or in Chicago, never bid for a city contract without hiring a high powered lobbyist.

That’s seemingly the lesson the Chicago Tribune is reporting in the battle for Chicago’s speed camera contract.

According to the Tribune investigation, the two vendor finalists, ACS (Xerox) and American Traffic Solutions, both hired big name lobbyists with local political connections to smooth their path to a potential contract. In fact, of the nine initial bidders, the only three companies that hired lobbyists got an invitation to pitch their automated camera enforcement technologies in person–finalists ACS and ATS and Optotraffic.

Coincidentally, none of the vendors without lobbyists made it any further than the original submission of their bid.

The pilot test being conducted by the city began December 3rd and ends on January 3rd. The city is using the testing process to select what it considers the best vendor for the speed camera program.

American Traffic Solutions has its cameras in the 6500 block of North Western Avenue adjacent to Warren Park, and in the 6300 block of South King Drive near Dulles Elementary School.

While ACS installed test cameras in the 1400 block of west Division Street on the same block as Near North Montessori School and Holy Trinity High School, and in the 2200 block of West Pershing Avenue near McKinley Park.

Drivers needn’t worry about receiving a $35 (for going 6-10 mph over the speed limit) violation notice or $100 (for exceeding the speed limit by 11 mph or more) violation notice in the mail during the testing period as no tickets will be issued.

Here’s the Tribune’s full story, “Speed camera bidders picked heavyweight help in Chicago.”

CBS 2 covers the start of Chicago’s speed camera pilot testing this past Monday on Division near Ashland and Milwaukee.

The test, which begins December 3rd and runs through January 3rd, is for the two finalist automated camera enforcement companies in the city’s speed camera bid process, to show off their respective technologies over the next 30 days. All cameras during the testing phase will be taken down after the test period has finished.

The two vendors, American Traffic Solutions and Xerox owned ACS, each have cameras installed at four locations near schools or parks.

No citations for drivers exceeding the posted speed limit or traveling beyond the 20 mph school zone speed limit when children are present.

The testing will allow the city to evaluate each company’s technology to see which bests fits the bid specifications. CDOT officials believe the contract will be awarded and the first speed cameras actually issuing violations will take place in the first quarter of 2013.

When the city’s speed camera program becomes operational drivers will receive a warning for their first offense, subsequent violations will cost drivers exceeding the speed limit between 6-10 mph $35 or $100 for motorists exceeding the speed limit by over 11 mph.

Below are the four locations where testing will take place:

• McKinley Park, at approximately 2223 W. Pershing Road
• Warren Park, at approximately 6541 N. Western Ave
• Dulles Elementary School, at approximately 6340 S. King Drive
• Near North Montessori School, at approximately 1446 W. Division

Technicians put the finishng touches on the installation of a speed camera in the 1400 block of north Division Street

Contractors for American Traffic Solutions install a speed camera near Warren Park on the north side

It’s a beautiful day to install a speed camera.

Contractors for American Traffic Solutions took advantage of the sunny and mild, almost pleasant late November weather Wednesday to begin the company’s first speed cam in the 6500 block of north Western Ave.

The location, adjacent to Warren Park, will capture video and photos of speeders driving northbound on Western, and is one of two locations with ATS equipment as part of the city’s four location speed camera pilot announced last week. The pilot will help the city to determine which of the the two finalists in the bidding process best meets the needs of the city.

ATS will also be installing speed cameras in the 6300 block of S. King Drive near Dulles Elementary School.

ACS, a Xerox company, is the other finalist in the speed camera bidding process according to the Chicago Tribune. ACS will be installing their cameras in the 2200 block of Pershing Road near McKinley Park and at 1400 block of north Division St. near the Near North Montessori School.

ATS spokesperson Charles Territo, who was on site to oversee the installation, said he was not at liberty to discuss many of the details of the installation and the bidding process and only had limited comments to share.

“We’ve been chosen to participate in this phase of the process,” said Territo, a spokesperson for ATS who was helping oversee the installation. “We are excited about the opportunity.”

According to their website, ATS utilizes radar technology for their speed cameras. A radar sensor is installed approximately 180 feet north of the camera and flash unit. When a vehicle is caught over the speed threshold set by the city, the flashes go off, the cameras begin rolling and a citation is sent by mail.

Drivers won’t have to worry about getting a speed camera ticket during the pilot testing.  No violations will be issued during the test period which begins Monday, December 3rd, will end January 3rd.

When a final vendor is selected and the program kicks off sometime during the first three months of 2013, drivers will still receive a warning for their first offense, with subsequent violations costing drivers $35 when they exceed the speed limit between 6-10 mph or $100 for motorists exceeding the speed limit by over 11 mph.

According to the City of Chicago 2013 budget, the city expects somewhere between $20-$30 million in revenue from speed camera enforcement this year.

The month long tests, being used to evaluate the technology of a previously reported two finalist vendors in the bidding process for the city’s speed camera program, will begin Monday December 3rd and end on Thursday, January 3rd.

The good news for drivers is no tickets will be issued during this test period.

“All this is, is a test of the equipment,” explained Chicago Department of Transportation spokesperson Pete Scales. “It’s just one phase of the RFP (Request for proposal) process.”

In the spirit of how the speed cameras were first touted by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the four locations include intersections near two parks and two schools.

• McKinley Park, at approximately 2223 W. Pershing Road
• Warren Park, at approximately 6541 N. Western Ave
• Dulles Elementary School, at approximately 6340 S. King Drive
• Near North Montessori School, at approximately 1446 W. Division

Scales says he believes part of the reason these particular sites were selected was to spread the locations around the city geographically.

According to the press release from the Office for Emergency Management and Communications says the test will include both mobile and permanent speed camera systems, signs will be posted at each test intersection and the cameras will be removed after the test period is complete.

“A variety of factors determined the test locations,” says the press release. “Including location within a safety zone, frequency of speed related crashes, and ease of accessibility to power.”

Scales believes, once a final vendor is chosen in early 2013, the first speed cameras will be in operation and issuing violations sometime in the first three months of 2013.

Although drivers will still receive a warning for their first offense, subsequent violations will cost drivers exceeding the speed limit between 6-10 mph $35 or $100 for motorists exceeding the speed limit by over 11 mph.