Tag Archives: Governor Quinn
Rumor Has It Quinn will Sign Speed Camera Bill
Uh-oh.
Gossip reporter Micheal Sneed is reporting in the Sun-Times that she has sources telling her Quinn will sign the speed camera bill.
The governor has until Monday, February 6th to sign or veto or the bill becomes law.
If the law passes, the Chicago City Council will still need to pass it in order for it to become part of city municipal code. And based on the overwhelming negative response from the public Governor Quinn’s office saw, local ward offices may soon start seeing the same public outcry.
Quinn Delays Speed Camera Bill Decision
The end of the month.
That’s when Illinois Governor Pat Quinn originally planned to make a decision on whether to sign or veto Senate Bill 965–the Chicago speed camera bill.
But according to CBS 2 News, Quinn is delaying for a few more days until at least after the State of the State address on Wednesday.
The story also quotes Quinn responding to the overwhelmingly negative public opposition to the bill and the Governor warns people shouldn’t put too much weight in the public outcry.
Governor Quinn’s Office Seeing Strong Opposition To Chicago Speed Camera Bill
Public Response To SB965 Oppose Bill By 9-1 Margin
People really don’t like Illinois Senate Bill 965.
SB965, also known as the Chicago speed camera bill, would allow the city to begin utilizing its red light camera system to do double duty issuing speeding tickets via the U.S. mail within 1/8 of a mile of a school or park.
But based on constituent feedback received by the Governor’s office, there is strong public opposition to the bill with public sentiment against the legislation heavily outweighing support by a 9-1 margin.
The Governor’s office released a report via a Freedom of Information request by The Expired Meter, that shows the Governor’s office has received a total of 224 phone calls, emails or letters from constituents regarding SB965, of which just 19 were in support of the bill. The other 205–over 91%–were opposed to the bill and urged the Governor to veto it.
In total the Governor’s office received 15 letters (11 opposed, 4 in support), 36 phone calls (35 opposed, 1 in support) and 173 email comments via the Governor’s website (159 opposed, 14 in support).
“I think that’s fantastic, but I’m not surprised.” said Cook County Campaign For Liberty’s Scott Davis about the public response to the bill. “People know speed cameras are not about safety, but about revenue.”
Gov. Quinn Still Mulling Over Speed Camera Bill?
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn may deliver a belated Christmas present for Chicago drivers according to WBEZ Radio. Then again, maybe not.
The public radio station reports Quinn has been suspiciously quiet about the Illinois bill sitting on his desk which would allow Chicago to start using it’s red light camera system to start issuing $50 and $100 speeding tickets via the mail.
According to the story, Quinn has not even read the bill which was passed by the Illinois General Assembly back on November 9th, which now languishes on his desk awaiting his signature. As the article points out, the governor certainly has not tipped his hand on which way he’s leaning.
Despite Changes, Speed Camera Bill Would Still Bring In Big Bucks
Data Shows $56 Million For First Year At Just 7 Locations
SB 965 is still a money maker.
The bill, which would bring speed enforcement cameras to Chicago, despite a few revisions on it’s way from being passed in both houses of the Illinois General Assembly to Governor Pat Quinn’s desk last week, would still help the Windy City rake in a ton of dough.
As originally reported here last week, under the original parameters of enforcement, and using data from the Chicago Department of Transportation study on which the basis of the speed camera initiative was launched, the first year of revenue for just the seven cameras picked for the study would generate close to an estimated $100 million.
However, two key components were changed in SB 965 in order to gain support from members for passage in the Illinois House.
Not So Fast! Quinn Considers Speed Camera Veto?
When the Chicago speed camera bill sped from the Illinois Senate and then through the state House in record time, prevailing thought would be it would get the signature of the Governor in short order.
But, not so fast.
It seems Governor Pat Quinn may be putting the brakes on the speed camera bill in the form of a veto.
Talking to WLS-AM radio host Roe Conn on Windy City Live television morning show Friday, asked Quinn if was going to sign the speed camera bill.
While not committing one way or another, Quinn seemed to be have some healthy skepticism of the bill.
“Well, I haven’t seen the legislation yet…” said Quinn. “But we’re going to put it under a microscope.”
Quinn went on to liken the speed and process of how the bill got passed to how Chicago’s parking meter lease deal got passed and intimated he would not like to see a repeat of that fiasco.
Quinn Signals Support Of Tollway Price Bump
A few weeks ago, the Illinois Tollway Authority proposedincreasing the cost of tolls by nearly double.
According to WBEZ Radio (91.5 FM), Governor Pat Quinn has not shown his hand on his feelings on the price increase, until Friday.
The radio station reports Quinn made it pretty darn clear he’s behind most tolls paid using I-PASS, would go from 40 cents to 75 cents in most cases.
Quinn Signs Backseat Buckleup Law
Coming to a backseat in your car
Monday, Gov. Pat Quinn signed a new Illinois law which requires all backseat passengers to wear seat belts, according to Illinois Statehouse News.
Illinois law already requires all front seat passengers and all “children” under 19 to wear seat belts.
The new law requires any person, child or adult, riding in the backseat to be buckled up. Fines begin at $25 for this offense.
While Quinn signed the law today, the it does not go into effect until January 1st, 2012.
While this new law may result in growing the number of seat belt violations issued, at least one law enforcement official quoted in the story admits it will be difficult for police and state troopers to see inside the backseat of vehicles.
Gov. Quinn Signs New Bike Safety Law
If it wasn’t completely obvious before, now it is illegal for drivers to “crowd” or threaten bicycle riders on the road by driving too close to them.
Governor Quinn signed this law and another related law on July 5th in an Arlington Heights bike store.
Senate Bill 2951 was deemed “anti-harassment” legislation was spearheaded by the League of Illinois Bicyclists, a statewide pro-bicyclist organization, and penalizes any drivers using their vehicle to threaten or harass bicycle riders with either a Class A misdemeanor or a Class 4 felony if injuries occur.
Red Light Camera Bill Green Lighted In Illinois House, Moves To Gov. Quinn’s Desk
Friday, a bill that supporters claim makes red light camera tickets more difficult to get, passed the Illinois General Assembly 80-27.
Critics of the bill say not only does it not go far enough, but it essentially codifies what already is standard practice. RLC opponents had originally proposed wide ranging reforms including a complete ban of the practice in Illinois.
The only legitimate change the law makes is a mild one.
This part of the bill insures drivers making a right turn on red, do not get a ticket if they stop past the white line on the pavement–as long as they don’t enter the intersection and do make a complete stop.
