Category Archives: Uncategorized
Two Cops Cleared In Bogus Parking Ticket Case
Two Chicago Police officers accused of issuing bogus parking tickets to a Palos Hills man, have been cleared of any wrong doing by the Chicago Police Board according to the Chicago Tribune.
The officers were accused of being involved with a ticket writing plot against Mark Geinosky, who received 24 parking tickets at locations he had never been. Geinosky fought and beat all 24 tickets and then filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city.
Jon Yates, the Chicago Tribune’s Problem Solver columnist brought Geinosky’s plight to light back in 2009 after the Chicago Police Department ignored his pleas to investigate the bogus tickets.
Fun With Physics! Join Us For A Free Lecture On Improving Traffic Safety
Renowned Physicist To Give Talk “Why Drivers Run Red Lights”
Sure, even if it’s been a few years since you cracked a book for your last physics class, you’re still invited.
We absolutely promise, you won’t need a slide rule or a calculator to attend a special lecture on traffic safety with physicist and traffic safety expert Brian Ceccarelli next Monday, June 18th at 7 PM.
“Why Drivers Run Red Lights,” is the title of Ceccarelli’s talk, co-sponsored by The Expired Meter and the Red Light Camera Doctor, where Ceccarelli will use his physics background to explain his theories on why the current methods of determining yellow light timing intervals may be causing unnecessary traffic accidents.
“I’m going to make a little physicist out of everyone in about 15 minutes,” chuckled Ceccarelli when asked if people would need an advanced degree in mathematics, science or engineering to attend his lecture.
Traffic Expert: Holiday Traffic Easier, Lighter This Year
But Traffic Enforcement Up
Good news drivers.
One local traffic expert believes Memorial Day Holiday traffic will be a bit easier than in recent years due to reduced construction projects.
Because there’s less road local road construction than in previous years, News Radio 780 Traffic Reporter Steven Hass believes traffic for this holiday weekend should be running smoother and faster than last year.
“The on-going construction list is much shorter this year than last, but there are still a couple of projects,” said Haas rattling off a list of construction and repaving projects around the area. “Of course, there are numerous suburban projects, but all in all, it is a lighter year in the construction department.”
Cops Accused Of Bogus Tickets Push Back At Hearing
We didn’t do it.
Someone else wrote those parking tickets.
That’s what two Chicago police officers, accused of writing some of the 24 bogus parking tickets issued to motorist Mark Geinosky, contended in their police board hearings earlier this week.
In other words, according to the Chicago Tribune, the two officers became victims of the same scam that targeted Geinosky when another officer or officers stole a handful of tickets from their ticket books to harass Geinosky.
Opinion: Why Speed Cameras Are A Great Idea
Speed cameras in Chicago are a great idea.
There. I’ve said it.
I think Chicago alderman should vote for the ordinance because a speed camera program can do so much for their career and the city.
Let me explain.
Speed cameras are a great idea if you want to generate revenue. Lot’s of revenue. Millions if not hundreds of millions of dollars a year in revenue.
When you understand that Chicago’s 191 red light camera locations generated $69 million in 2010, a potential 300 speed camera locations could easily dwarf the nation’s largest RLC program.
Speed cameras are a great idea if you want to increase traffic times. Local spokesperson for the National Motorists Association and traffic safety expert Barnet Fagel believes speed cameras will cause drivers to suddenly slow down through the camera enforced safety zones, but then speed up after leaving the zone causing traffic dislocation and longer commute times.
“Speed cameras will slow traffic flow,” says Fagel. “You think traffic is bad now? Just wait until the speed cameras go in then prepare to be stuck in traffic even longer.”
Illinois Boasts Nation’s Largest Fast Charge Station Network For Electric Vehicles
Electric Car Owners Can Now Juice Up At Tollway Oases
EV charging station outside a West Loop Walgreens
Above the din from hundreds of traditional gas powered vehicles roaring past the O’Hare Tollway Oasis Thursday afternoon, Governor Quinn announced Illinois will soon be the home to the nation’s largest network of fast charging stations for electric cars.
“We want Illinois to be the greenest state in America,” Governor Quinn said. “By installing the largest network of cutting edge fast-chargers, Illinois will continue to support green jobs and provide people with environmentally-friendly and affordable travel options.”
The O’Hare Oasis is just one of four oases where fast chargers have been installed. The other three locations includes the Des Plaines Oasis (along I-90), the Lake Forest Oasis and Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis.
Eventually, electric vehicle fast charger units will be available at all seven oases in the Illinois Tollway system.
The state has partnered up with EV charging station management company 350Green, the Illinois Tollway and the 7-11 locations at each of the four oases to allow owners of electric vehicles re-charge their batteries in under 30 minutes.
State Transit Plan Funded By Increase In Gas Tax
Local advocates want improvements in mass transit.
But ironically, they want drivers to pay for these improvements through a mild increase in higher state gas taxes.
Riders for Better Transit, a group under the umbrella of the Active Transportation Alliance, held a press conference in support of Senate Bill 3236, which they call the Transit Fast Forward bill which was recently introduced in the Illinois General Assembly.
Photo Recapping The 2012 Chicago Auto Show
Over the last week or so, tens of thousands of drivers walked through the 2012 Chicago Auto Show to see automotive companies showing off hundreds of new vehicles for 2013 and beyond.
The Expired Meter took a stroll through McCormick Place last week to check out what was new and interesting at this year’s show.
Of course, all the latest, greatest, coolest looking cars for next year and beyond were on full display and we have the photos to prove it.
Speed Cameras Generating Big Bucks For Washington D.C.
Perhaps this explains Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s keen interest in speed camera enforcement.
According to the Daily Caller, Washington D.C., using just 28 speed cameras, generated almost $34 million in gross revenue for the city in 2011. That’s over a million bucks per camera.
Geek May, Or May Not Be On CBS 2 News At 10
UPDATE: Here’s the link to the finished story and video from Tuesday night’s CBS 2 News.
The story is essentially about a young man who, after recently moving to the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, has been receiving an ungodly number of parking tickets. He claims he’s been getting the runaround from the city and Department of Revenue. The city says the young man is a serial scofflaw.
ORIGINAL POST: Just finished an interview with Mike Parker of CBS 2 Chicago for a piece that may or may not air on the 10 PM news.
The story is about a young man who’s just moved to the city, but has received a blizzard of parking tickets in his short tenure in the Windy City.
So far, CBS news editors have not decided if the story will air or not. So, tune in if you can, but don’t be mad if it doesn’t air.
Or, perhaps you will be thankful that the Geek’s aging and aesthetically challenged visage won’t crack your new plasma TV screen.
