Chicago Speed Cameras Set New Record

According to Huffington Post, the Chicago Speed Cameras have caught more drivers than any other cameras they have.  Luckily the city has delayed the $35 tickets for people going 5-10 miles over the speed limit.  However, you can expect a $100 ticket if you go 11 mph or more over the speed limit.

City to Remove Red Light Cams from 18 Intersections

According to NBC5Chicago, the city is going to remove red light cameras from 18 intersections because of low crash rates.  I'm not sure when the cameras will be removed, so please let me know if you see them come down before my next post so I can update the locations and maps.

The 18 intersections where red light cameras will be removed are:

• Osceola and Touhy Avenues
• Kedzie and Devon Avenues
• Harlem and Higgins Avenues
• Sheridan Road and Hollywood Avenue
• Austin and Belmont Avenues
• Cicero and Belmont Avenues
• Halsted and Belmont Avenues
• California and North Avenues
• Wells and North Avenues
• Kostner Avenue and Division Street
• Clark Street and Cermak Road
• California Avenue and 35th Street
• California Avenue and 47th Street
• Pulaski Road and 71st Street
• Wentworth Avenue and 65th Street
• Racine Avenue and 79th Street
• 79th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue
• Stony Island Avenue and 89th Street

This is as least a small sign of progress in the fight against these revenue generating red light and speed cameras.

Illinois Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Chicago Red Light Camera Case

According to the Expired Meter, the Illinois Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Chicago Red Light Camera Case.  This is a good sign.  Maybe while they are there, they can declare the speed cameras illegal as well.

50 Speed Camera Locations

This website lists all of the 50 speed camera locations.

I especially love the description that they use for the locations.

Map of mayor Rahm Emanuel's auxiliary funding initiative locations.

Emanuel announces 50 speed camera sites

According to The Chicago Tribune, Emanuel announced there will be 50 speed camera sites in the near future.  This is an update from the original 12 locations released earlier.

Voices from The Chicago Sun Times also has a great site that shows all of the speed camera locations.  You can type in your address to see if there are any near you or near your usual driving routes.

I think what makes these cameras so annoying is all the different rules for when tickets will be issued and what the speed limit is during which times.  I would recommend that everyone reach out to their local alderman and encourage them to put signs in place so everyone knows when the speed limit is 20 and when it is 30 and when the speed cameras are turned on.  I know near the middle school that I went to in the suburbs, when the speed limit was 20mph (which was only when school started and ended and not throughout the entire day when kids are supposed to be in school and not crossing the street), there was a speed limit sign that blinked orange so everyone knew to be alert for crossing children and to slow down.

If you want to look up who your alderman is, please click here.

From the Chicago Tribune article:

Each camera will trigger warning tickets during the first 30 days. After that, drivers exceeding the speed limit by 6 to 10 mph will get $35 tickets in the mail. Those exceeding the limit by more than 10 mph will get $100 tickets.

Near parks, the cameras will be active when the parks are open, generally from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. The speed limit near parks is 30 mph.

Near schools, the cameras will be active from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on school days. From 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., the speed limit in those areas is 20 mph when children are present and 30 mph when they are not. From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., the limit is 30 mph.

First speed cameras to trigger warnings Monday

According to the Chicago Tribune, the first speed cameras are going to start issuing warnings on Monday.  By the end of the year, they are predicting we will have multiple speed cameras at 50 locations.  There are currently speed cameras at 12 locations throughout the city.

Chicago Speed Camera Operating Hours

The Huffington Post provided some more information today on the hours that the speed cameras will operate.

The speed cameras won't monitor speeds 24 hours a day. CDOT officials say hours will be limited from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in safety zones around schools on school days; 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. when children are present, the speed limit also drops to 20 mph rather than the posted 30 mph.

The city expects to select 50 locations for camera installation in 2013.