Watch your driving speed in Illinois!!

[BABY1]

TweetIllinois to start using Photo Radar in July !
>
> Illinois will begin using photo radar in freeway work
> zones in July. One
> mile per hour over the speed limit and the machine will get
> you a nice
> $375.00 ticket in the mail. Beginning July 1st, the
> State of Illinois will
> begin using the speed cameras in areas designated as
> "Work Zones" on major
> freeways. Anyone caught by these devices will be
> mailed a $375.00 ticket
> for the FIRST offense. The SECOND offense will cost
> $1000.00 and comes with
> a 90-Day suspension. Drivers will also receive
> demerit points against their
> license, which allow insurance companies to raise Insurance
> rates.

> This is the harshest penalty structure ever set for a
> governmental unit
> involving PHOTO speed enforcement. The State already
> has two camera vans on
> line issuing tickets 24/7 in work zones with speed limits
> lowered to 45 MPH.
> Photos of both the Driver's face and License plate are
> taken.

[BABY1]

TweetI agree with the importance of safety when driving, but these high fines are just another way to make money from the people.

[daved150]

Tweet

I agree with the importance of safety when driving, but these high fines are just another way to make money from the people.

bingo!!! and these camara's will be on and in service when the workers are home for the night

[Sal Paradise]

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bingo!!! and these camara's will be on and in service when the workers are home for the night

Good point!
Are they only in operation during workers hours?

Wee have school zone cameras here and they are only out during the restricted hours when kids are possibly going to or coming from school.


Sal

[daved150]

Tweet

Good point!
Are they only in operation during workers hours?

Wee have school zone cameras here and they are only out during the restricted hours when kids are possibly going to or coming from school.


Sal

we're lucky. there's a law here that states if a law enforcement officer does NOT witness a violation with his OWN EYES, a citation or ticket cannot be issued!!! works good for us!

[horsepwr]

Tweet

we're lucky. there's a law here that states if a law enforcement officer does NOT witness a violation with his OWN EYES, a citation or ticket cannot be issued!!! works good for us!

That's how it should be.

I understand the worker zone thing too. We have doubled fines in work zones, but that camera thing and 1mph is ridiculous. I think there's supposed to be like a 4mph pad. Because tread on tires can throw a speedometer a few mph. It only takes 1/16" to throw it off some. There are too many variables to ticket for 1 damn mph.

[Sal Paradise]

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we're lucky. there's a law here that states if a law enforcement officer does NOT witness a violation with his OWN EYES, a citation or ticket cannot be issued!!! works good for us!

Actually - one of my wifes friends and mine is a county prosecutor and she said the exact same thing.

I don't know for sure because there was a lawyer who tried to fight the school zone camera and lost - his wife was the one ticketed.
The courts later found the cameras to be constitutionally OK.
But I don't know if the lawyer used the right reasoning in his defense case.

Who knows - it's all bullsh!t if you ask me.


Sal

[Sal Paradise]

TweetI'm surprised they can give points on the license or even try to suspend a license.
I think they'll have to rethink this one - a bad lawyer would make this look silly.

Every other place I know of that has photo enforcement has to leave it as a "civil" offense because there is no way to prove that the owner of the vehicle was driving allowing them to get the aforementioned points.

The "civil" aspect of it it that you - the vehicle owner are responsible for what your vehicle does. So if someone else is driving it then you are responsible for paying the fine - your car = your fine.
But to penallize someone's driving record or suspend their license for something they may not have even been in the car for is totally out there.
What if you were driving your husbands car. Would he get his license suspended?

The whole thing is about revenue - no doubt about it.
Safety is one thing - just digging for gold is another.

Maybe they'll have some of these cameras shot off the poles or set on fire with old tires like they did in Europe and maybe the state will get the message that it isn't cool.


Sal

[BABY1]

Tweet

I'm surprised they can give points on the license or even try to suspend a license.
I think they'll have to rethink this one - a bad lawyer would make this look silly.

Every other place I know of that has photo enforcement has to leave it as a "civil" offense because there is no way to prove that the owner of the vehicle was driving allowing them to get the aforementioned points.

The "civil" aspect of it it that you - the vehicle owner are responsible for what your vehicle does. So if someone else is driving it then you are responsible for paying the fine - your car = your fine.
But to penallize someone's driving record or suspend their license for something they may not have even been in the car for is totally out there.
What if you were driving your husbands car. Would he get his license suspended?

The whole thing is about revenue - no doubt about it.
Safety is one thing - just digging for gold is another.

Maybe they'll have some of these cameras shot off the poles or set on fire with old tires like they did in Europe and maybe the state will get the message that it isn't cool.


Sal

Sorry, I forgot the other part to this article. They wiilget a picture of the person driving.

> This is the harshest penalty structure ever set for a
> governmental unit
> involving PHOTO speed enforcement. The State already
> has two camera vans on
> line issuing tickets 24/7 in work zones with speed limits
> lowered to 45 MPH.
> Photos of both the Driver's face and License plate are
> taken.

[Sal Paradise]

Tweet

Sorry, I forgot the other part to this article. They wiilget a picture of the person driving.

> This is the harshest penalty structure ever set for a
> governmental unit
> involving PHOTO speed enforcement. The State already
> has two camera vans on
> line issuing tickets 24/7 in work zones with speed limits
> lowered to 45 MPH.
> Photos of both the Driver's face and License plate are
> taken.

That will be interesting --
I can see hats, sunglasses, etc. coming into play really quick.
Not to mention helmeted motorcycles! and if the camera is from the front (to take a face pic) then no license plate number either on the bike. At least from the front.
Does IL require a front plate?
That's how they get you around here.
The rear plates are only captured on the red light cameras but no face shot.

As I said before - it's all total BS


Sal

[horsepwr]

Tweetoh, you're preaching to the choir. Here in FL. The state decided to hand out $1000 fine if you're caught on one wheel on a motorcycle. $1K. 1st offense. If your tag isn't positioned properly, as in horizontally and clearly visible, no mounting the tag under the bike, or that's another $1000 fine. This is ofcourse aimed at sportbike riders. Choppers & customs everywhere had verticly mounted tags for years. They did target that a few years ago with a little $50 fine. Then the new $1000 in 2008 is clearly for sportbikes with the tags up under the bike, like in front of the rear wheel. Which I understand the law. The tag should be visible, and it gets all torn up by rocks and stuff when mounted like that, but one thousand dollars!!! Why $50 for the little verticle thing back a few years ago. But if it has to do with sportbikes, it's flat unaffordable. The other one that came targeted at sportbikes without a doubt is if you're clocked 50 over. That's it. The bike you're on is now owned by the state of FL. That's right. They take the bike. Again, I realize that going 50mph over is excessive. And riding wheelies isn't cool in certain populated areas, but there is, and has been, a ticket for offenses such as those. It's called reckless driving, and carries a damn stiff penalty. But, I guess they're trying to kill more riders because now you got kids on bikes that ain't gonna let that bike go, nor can they afford $1000 out of their budget, so...the chase is on. Sometimes it ends tragically too. They didn't murder anyone. They just walked a little wheelie, or came to a stop on the front tire. Let 'em go. Catch 'em another day. ahhh, it pisses me off.

All these tickets they're handing out now-days, and jacked up fines is a result of the economy, possibly.

I'd like to say that I beat a 20mph over (bullshyt ticket) in court a few weeks ago. So, don't put it passed the cops to flat out lie, and pull you for nothing but ticket you for something.

[dixiechick]

TweetWe had several of the traffic cameras at intersections here ticketing people who run traffic lights. Now they are talking about taking them out because fewer people are running them and ticket revenues are down. I had to see them go. I don't have a problem with them at all. It's really cut down on the number of people who run lights. I think it's a good thing because accidents have gone down.

Last spring on top of all the lack of sales and 3 house payments, I was on my way to work. We had just moved so I was trying to adjust to the new commute. I went from 15 mins to 45... and there is a construction zone. Just pass the bridge they are working on the speed limit is posted 65. Naturally I up the speed and set my cruise control to just under 70. No more than I got the cruise control set I see a police sitting on the side of the road. His lights go on... He got me for 74 in a construction zone... $300 fine That was a big hit for us at this time.