Tag Archives: speed cameras
Chicago Speed Camera Program Comes Up For Bid
While Illinois’ speed camera enforcement law doesn’t go into effect until July 1st, the City of Chicago has begun the process of seeking bids for their budding speed cam program.
On Friday, Chicago’s Department of Procurement released the documentation for the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the city’s automated speed enforcement program.
The winning bidder would get an initial five year contract with the possibility of three 2-year contract extensions. The contract would provide the winning company a minimum of 25 and maximum of 300 speed camera locations, with no more than 50 speed cams installed in the first year of the program.
Chicago 6th Most Ticketed U.S. City
Group Believes Speed Cameras Will Make Ranking Jump
The Second City Is Actually the sixth city.
At least when it comes to speeding and traffic tickets, according to the National Motorists Association, a motorists rights organization.
In the NMA’s recently released bi-annual rankings of America’s top ticketed cities and states, Chicago comes in as the sixth most likeliest city to get a speeding or traffic ticket.
According to the study, Atlanta won the honor of being the nation’s top ticketed city, followed by Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, Miami and New York rounding out the top five.
From a state perspective, Illinois ranks a lowly 18th. Nevada, Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Maryland make up the top five states for ticket traps.
Shock Poll: Chicagoans Opppsed To Speed Cameras
We can’t believe it.
What a shock.
According to a Chicago Tribune/WGN TV poll, 54% of Chicago voters are against Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s speed camera program.
Wow.
But even mores surprisingly, 69% of the 700 respondents to the poll felt that speed cameras were about raising revenue and not about improving traffic safety. Only 37% believed the program was primarily about improving safety.
Speed Camera, Yellow Light Bills Pass Out Of Committee
We’ve got good news and bad news.
The good news is, SB3504, Senator Dan Duffy’s “One Second For Safety” bill passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday night.
The bad news is, so did Amendment 7 to SB0952, a bill to allow speed camera enforcement in all the counties which currently allow red light cameras.
According to Sen. Duffy, Transportation Committee members agreed to allow his bill to extend yellow light times at RLC intersections to reduce red light running to move to the floor of the state Senate, as long as a few minor changes were made to the bill.
Dr. Geek’s Ticket Advice On Outside The Loop Radio
Mike Stephen, the smooth and suave host of Outside the Loop Radio has the Parking Ticket Geek on speed dial.
So every time Stephen needs some parking ticket advice, he gets the Geek on the phone.
Being the huge fan of one of Chicago’s cutting edge public affairs radio shows, Mr. Geek is always willing to add his idiotic 2 cents.
Thursday morning at 10 AM, the Geek and Stephen talk parking tickets, speed cameras and yellow light timing.
Tune into WLUW 88.7 FM to hear Outside the Loop Radio or stream it here.
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.”
New Website Goes On Speed Camera Attack
“While we are not against traffic safety, we believe the speed camera proposal is about revenue and not safety,” says the FightTheLight.com creator who wishes to remain anonymous.
The website was born the day after the mayor announced the legislation in Springfield according to the website’s founder. He and his partner wanted to try to educate people on the subject and motivate readers to call their state legislators.
“Powerful forces are behind this legislation,” he says. “But can have our voices heard too. Call or email your state legislators today.”
Check out their website, FightTheLight.com.
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.
GPS Angel Helps Drivers Avoid Red Light Camera Tickets
Protect yourself.
When you drive in Chicago, America’s red light camera capital, protection is what you need to do to insure you don’t get bitch slapped with a $100 red light camera ticket.
That’s the idea behind a niche category of electronic devices which alert drivers to red light camera intersections as they drive.
These relatively inexpensive devices utilize GPS and specialty point of interest (POI) databases to give drivers a heads up when RLC intersections are approaching, so you can slow down safely and stop before the light changes.
One of these devices is the GPS Angel.
Budget Issues May Reduce Highway Police Patrols
Since 1985, Illinois State Troopers have patrolled the 53 miles of Illinois highways that run through Chicago.
But now, with the state budget facing draconian cutbacks, this responsibility may fall back on the city’s shoulders according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Gov. Quinn is proposing cutbacks to the state police that would remove the 182 officers who currently patrol Chicago highways. And Mayor Daley is not happy.
Because Daley is already facing his own budget issues and with Chicago police already understaffed, it would be fiscally impossible to replace the patrols with CPD officers.
The most obvious possibility would be a highway system with a skeleton crew of patrols or, according to city hall, installing speed cameras along the highways system and just mail speeding tickets to lead-footed drivers.
Speed cameras?!?
Uh oh! That doesn’t sound good!
