Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

My father-in-law (who lives in Illinois) emailed this to me. I don't know that I want to take the chance of this not being real. Just wanted to give anyone driving through IL a heads-up in case it's true.

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. Pass this on to everyone you know who might be affected!!!


Jake.

Originally Posted by Theokayman:
My father-in-law (who lives in Illinois) emailed this to me. I don't know that I want to take the chance of this not being real. Just wanted to give anyone driving through IL a heads-up in case it's true.

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. Pass this on to everyone you know who might be affected!!!


Jake.

Thanks Jake! After making my 380 donation to the City of Phoenix's photo radar this year I will let someone else drive the rig through Illinois!

Rob
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

Originally Posted by Theokayman:
My father-in-law (who lives in Illinois) emailed this to me. I don't know that I want to take the chance of this not being real. Just wanted to give anyone driving through IL a heads-up in case it's true.

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. Pass this on to everyone you know who might be affected!!!


Jake.

http://www.snopes.com/********/traffic/illinois.asp

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

Originally Posted by Racerrob:
Thanks Jake! After making my 380 donation to the City of Phoenix's photo radar this year I will let someone else drive the rig through Illinois!

Rob
Posted via Mobile Device

My son, Scott, and I also were caught on Candid Camera by Phoenix's finest during February's Copper Classic on Dirt. (In addition to the fine, had to pay an additional "finders fee" of $40 for some outfit to trace us - we were driving in a rental.) Big Brother is all over us - via the nations traffic cops- like a cheap suit.

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

I e-mailed my nephew who is a State Trooper in Illinois. His response is that they have been using the "camera van" for a while now. He said that it automatically takes a picture of the vehicle complete with plate number and a picture of the driver. He said that the quaility is so good, it would be hard to fight it in a court of law. They can tell if you shaved this morning or not.:3: He said that they are currently in the process of raising the fines but as far as the exact amount he hasn't seen anything on paper. His last comment was "SLOW DOWN".:31:

A little tidbit about him as well. Don't work too hard to try to talk yourself out of a ticket. If he turns the red & blues on, you bought yourself a ticket. He isn't going to be chasing you down and then letting you go. Just remember, the State of Illinois is hurting for money more so than some other states. Buckle up and slow down is the best advice he could give. Also, with him don't mention my name thinking that will help. That could buy you jail time.:19::5::3::15::10:

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

It's called tax revenue boys just like operation click it or ticket. Has NOTHING to do with safty just another way to get money from the tax payer. One way or another they'll get it.

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

If your not capable of paying attention to your speed you can buy a clear spray off ebay that distorts your plate and makes it unreadable to any camera. I was told it works.

http://www.phantomplate.com/faq2.htm

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

Originally Posted by john3g:
It's called tax revenue boys just like operation click it or ticket. Has NOTHING to do with safty just another way to get money from the tax payer. One way or another they'll get it.

Really ?!?! Enforcing a law that requires folks to slow down in a work zone, where there's pedestrians, slow-moving construction vehicles, construction debris, etc. has NOTHING to do with saf(e)ty?!?!

Tim Simmons

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

The fines do seem outrageous, but from someone who has been in work zones for over 20 years, anything to slow people down in a work area is fine with me.

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

1 mph over and getting 300+ fine is about tax money. If it started at 5mph over I would agree it's about safety. Speedometers can be off by 1mph and most probably are. I nearly got a ticket one time for not slowing down quick enough. I drive the speed limit almost always, 99% of the time. Sometimes going down a hill it's easy to exceed it. If I got a ticket for 46 in a 45 I would go ballistic.

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

I had an Uncle that got hit & Killed over around Celina, Ohio about 12 yrs ago, Him & the guy from Sidney that was transferring the tar were both hit & killed. I also remember seeing signs up on 80/90 that said it is unlawful to be in this lane about a mile back from the construction zone. & did see State Highway patrolmen have cars pulled over every time. for some reason or another they stopped that, I think that was 1 of the smartest things going, Would keep traffic flowing better instead of having jackasses trying to beat you into the lane as your coming into the construction.

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

Originally Posted by aceace:
1 mph over and getting 300+ fine is about tax money. If it started at 5mph over I would agree it's about safety. Speedometers can be off by 1mph and most probably are. I nearly got a ticket one time for not slowing down quick enough. I drive the speed limit almost always, 99% of the time. Sometimes going down a hill it's easy to exceed it. If I got a ticket for 46 in a 45 I would go ballistic.

Be careful where you go ballistic. If it happens to be in front of the guy with the long black robe behind a big wooden bench, you might end up behind bars.:15:

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

Just this last March, a 61 year old dump truck driver ran into a truck that was carrying the flashing arrow directing traffic around a construction, area on I164 killing the driver. The dump truck driver didn't make any effort to slow down. He was not drunk or under the influence of drugs, but he just plain ran through the construction zone. He was later arrested and will face jail time.

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

I live in Arizona and would like to thank all that have contributed to our fine state, we have cameras every half mile now on the freeways. If it were for safety reasons I would be fine with it, but our fine state is doing this for one reason and one reason only revenue.

Grady

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

Originally Posted by watkinsgrady:
I live in Arizona and would like to thank all that have contributed to our fine state, we have cameras every half mile now on the freeways. If it were for safety reasons I would be fine with it, but our fine state is doing this for one reason and one reason only revenue.

Grady

So, you'd rather they tax law-abiding citizens to generate revenue instead of fining those who break the law.

Tim Simmons

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

Here's the real deal from the State of Illinois...sorry for the randomness...

Construction zones...they've had the camera vans out since last year. Non descript, white van, they usually park at the beginning of a pull off area. Guy sits inside while the camera, looking out the back window, does all the work. Like the traffic cameras' in Phoenix, there is a flash.

I believe the "fudge factor" is 5 mph over the limit.

I have never gotten a ticket. A couple years ago, before the camera vans, a construction workers mom was caught doing something like 75 in a 45 zone. Court and newspapers made an example out of her, and rightfully so. A few more years ago, a single mom flagger got hit and killed.

Yes it is about revenue, but it is also about the workers being killed.

City of Chicago Police and the Illinois State Police have something similar. They sit in their unmarked car, usually off to the side, (you'll never see them) and they have this video camera looking thing, that takes the same picture, with the same info, plate, date, time, speed, etc. BUT, no flash. You drive right past them and never know who they were or how they got you. No flash, no lights or sirens to slow down the next bunch of cars...think about that.

A couple weeks ago, on 88 west bound, I saw an odd looking construction zone sign, you know the kind that have the solar panels so there's no generator motor. It had a very high tech looking camera on it, like the kind they use to show traffic intersections on the news...but it was about 8 feet off the ground, facing oncoming traffic.

This new stuff...you'll never know what hit you and there will be no warning to slow down like when they would pull you over.

As a side note, the Sate of Indiana has cracked down as well. I see 3-4 cars pulled over every time I go east and west on 94 and the tollway.

You can tell who drives the roads regular..they're the ones going the speed limit!!

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

Originally Posted by Tim:
Really ?!?! Enforcing a law that requires folks to slow down in a work zone, where there's pedestrians, slow-moving construction vehicles, construction debris, etc. has NOTHING to do with saf(e)ty?!?!

Tim Simmons

No it is veiled in the cloak of safty but it has very little to do with it...I wonder do unmarked mustang have anything to do with safty?? We spend hundreds of thousands on these types of vehicles for traffic enforcement a year and for what, safty??? Come now..I feel that road workers need protected but when you see these kind of fines do you really think they are put in place just for safty? We all know seatbealts save lives but do you think putting up road blocks to check if people are using them is really necessary?? To protect who? From what?? This is just my opinion....

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

I travel I90 between south side of Rockford to WI state line. It's been under construction forever. They have the 45 MPH speed limit signs up with the $375 fine posted. The only problem is if you drive 45 on there you will get run over, even by the semi's.

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

I've been aware of Ill. using these speed cameras the past few years. Never been pulled over outside of Mo. and don't plan on it. I don't think I'll be doing much traveling on I-57 this summer anyways so I'm not that concerned.

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

I like the ones where you drive for 2 hours in a work zone and you never see any work being done. About two times a year we have to drive past the windy city. I think there are a few sections of highway that have been being fixed for 15 years. In Michigan they made a big deal about using a flim on your plates made by 3M. The state police said it was for the cops to see the plates better. Truth was it was so cameras could read the plates to give tickets.

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

I somehow doubt the 1mph ticket. A. Almost all cars are not 100% right, my car is actually one mph over if my GPS is correct. B. I think a 1mph over ticket would be the easiest thing to fight. The radar would have to be shown to be 100% correct, your car would have to be 100% correct. Tires can change how fast you are going, worn, bigger, smaller. etc. Also, say you are into a construction zone and the car in front of you is going 55 (say speed limit is 50) and the semi behind you is doing 55. Chances are, since they are manned, if you are doing the speed of traffic, it will get by. I know the person behind me is traveling faster, I usually slowly speed down so they know see I am slowing down.

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

The local paper quoted IDOT today as saying the law with the $375 (maybe I don't have that exact, but withing a few bucks) has been on the books there since 2004. They claim they run 5 camera vans and that they are all clearly marked with a speed board on top (those light up signs that tell you how fast you are going). Further they claim they put up clear photo speed zone signs up far enough away when they run them that you have plenty of time to slow down. Says a big chunk of the fine money goes to the state patrol to fund overtime officers. Also claims that 90% of construction zone accidents involve drivers and not workers and that is why they enforce regardless if workers are out there.
Just the messenger here--don't shoot!

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

Originally Posted by Tim:
So, you'd rather they tax law-abiding citizens to generate revenue instead of fining those who break the law.

Tim Simmons

Good point Tim, my problem with these are the amount and the fact that they put them wherever the speed changes usually from 65 to 55, also lets admit it, this is a revenue source.

Grady:)

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

As a traffic officer in California, I have an issue with Ill. State Troopers. I agree with the safety issues for constructions workers. We kill several workers a year out here. Enforcement for safety is needed.

My issue is with the speed margin. There is no way in Heck ALL speedometers are accurrate. In California if you do not give at least a 10 mph cusion most traffic judges will dismiss the cite out right. Citing at one MPH over is WRONG and a bad practice. Bad practice makes bad case law!! Ill. will be challanged by some attorney who's ole lady gets pinned for a couple of MPH over the limit. Experts will testify and case law will come down demanding a standard and fair cusion be given to account for speedo variations.

Then all states will eventually have to follow the NEW case law. If Ill. Troppers practice is true then they are just screwn' the deal for us Copers that believe in education first and enforcement second. The stick and carrot deal. If you don't take the carrot then I'll hit you with the stick till you do.....You would not believe how much bone headed stuff is done in the South and Midwest that results in Federal case law for all.....Arizona Vs Miranda sound familiar....

Ok I'm off my soap box now!!!

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

Originally Posted by john3g:
No it is veiled in the cloak of safty but it has very little to do with it...I wonder do unmarked mustang have anything to do with safty?? We spend hundreds of thousands on these types of vehicles for traffic enforcement a year and for what, safty??? Come now..I feel that road workers need protected but when you see these kind of fines do you really think they are put in place just for safty? We all know seatbealts save lives but do you think putting up road blocks to check if people are using them is really necessary?? To protect who? From what?? This is just my opinion....

So, I can only assume you're really angry about the fine ($10K I believe) you get for hitting a highway construction worker in a work zone.

You know, it seems to me that, if you obey the laws you don't have much to worry about. If you push the envelope you get your just dues.

Just my (and, I believe, every other law-abiding citizen"s) opinion.

Tim Simmons

---------- Post added at 07:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:48 AM ----------

Originally Posted by watkinsgrady:
Good point Tim, my problem with these are the amount and the fact that they put them wherever the speed changes usually from 65 to 55, also lets admit it, this is a revenue source.

Grady:)

Of course it's a revenue source. But this source of revenue is only as lucrative as the people who travel the roads make it. If folks obeyed the law this source would dry up and go away. Then money could be saved on traffic enforcement and law enforcement could spend effort and resources on other issues.

Tim Simmons

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

Originally Posted by tim:
so, i can only assume you're really angry about the fine ($10k i believe) you get for hitting a highway construction worker in a work zone.

You know, it seems to me that, if you obey the laws you don't have much to worry about. If you push the envelope you get your just dues.

Just my (and, i believe, every other law-abiding citizen"s) opinion.

Tim simmons

---------- post added at 07:56 am ---------- previous post was at 07:48 am ----------



of course it's a revenue source. But this source of revenue is only as lucrative as the people who travel the roads make it. If folks obeyed the law this source would dry up and go away. Then money could be saved on traffic enforcement and law enforcement could spend effort and resources on other issues.

Tim simmons

kool-aid any one??????:15::14:

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

This is nothing new. It has been in effect for two years now. and this July starts the third year. They do not issue tickets for 1 mile over either. There is a tolerance but I will not disclose how much. Why would you worry about it if you obey the speed limit in the work zones. It does a great deal to protect the workers in those zones.

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

If folks want to avoid this situation, just get on the Illinois Department of Transportaion website ahead of time to find out where any Interstate construction zones might be along your route. Then detour accordingly. For example, US 40 pretty much parallels I-70 thru most of Illinois, US-36 runs along I-72, US 45 along I-57, etc. Then you won't have to worry about the speed cameras.

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

Originally Posted by egh170:
This is nothing new. It has been in effect for two years now. and this July starts the third year. They do not issue tickets for 1 mile over either. There is a tolerance but I will not disclose how much. Why would you worry about it if you obey the speed limit in the work zones. It does a great deal to protect the workers in those zones.

But, as John3g will testify, it has NOTHING to do with saf(e)ty.

Tim Simmons

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

Originally Posted by Tim:
But, as John3g will testify, it has NOTHING to do with saf(e)ty.

Tim Simmons

You win ...You have convinced me I was wrong with all that great info that you have put into this debate..I thank you for "edgabacating" me sir..and I am sorry for ever stating my thoughts on the subject...how dare me...Its people like you that will roll rover and except everything that is thrown your way by the government or by any other governing body at its face value without even a question of its lagitimacy or the benefits to all involved. That is untill it directly effects you.Then in only then is it the matter taken into question but by that time it's to late. I think that this is the problem today with the people in this country we aren't questioning our political leaders enough about some of the decision they are making in the name of public good.I do have a problem with these type of laws because I look between the lines and look for the real motives and maybe thats wrong but it's just the way I am. So when I hear this kind of off the wall fines I question it and so should you but you won"t because you'll take it at face value and go on. Oh, I do believe all road workes (as I have stated) need to be protected but if you think for a minute that fines are set that high and the speed margins are set that tight for their safty and their safty alone your sir are fooling yourself but hey my guy (not that he was the complete answere either) wasn't voted into the big house in D.C and I don't go into Illinios that much so I guess we I'll have to suck up for the next 4 years..Enough said...you win..John Gurley:15:

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

Originally Posted by illiNOISE:
If folks want to avoid this situation, just get on the Illinois Department of Transportaion website ahead of time to find out where any Interstate construction zones might be along your route. Then detour accordingly. For example, US 40 pretty much parallels I-70 thru most of Illinois, US-36 runs along I-72, US 45 along I-57, etc. Then you won't have to worry about the speed cameras.

Take US 40,great scenic road ,nice little communities you 'll get to meet some fine people when you stop for fuel ect.

Re: Be Careful when driving through Illinois
 

Maybe you folks that think this is a stupid idea should write IDOT and tell them how much of a fine it would take to get you to obey the law. Would $50 do it, would it take $100? Or are your driving skills so above average that no traffic laws should apply in your case?