Speed cameras coming to Illinois highways

[August 08, 2008]  SPRINGFIELD -- To further enhance traffic safety and reduce fatalities, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced Thursday that the Illinois State Police will join the Illinois Department of Transportation in a new enforcement program that would put speed cameras on highways to crack down on reckless drivers.

This new program involves reducing the speed of motorists on Illinois interstates with the deployment of photo speed enforcement cameras. These cameras will be deployed on each interstate throughout Illinois. Administrative citations will be generated as a result of the cameras. The goal of these cameras is to target motorists who chose to drive at excessive speeds. The revenues generated from the initiative would be targeted to hire an additional 500 troopers to the ranks of the Illinois State Police over the next three years.

"The Illinois State Police have already done an exceptional job reducing the number of lives lost from traffic crashes," said Blagojevich. "The use of speed enforcement cameras on interstate highways throughout Illinois will mean that even more lives will be saved by targeting motorist that drive at excessively high and reckless speeds. At the same time, we will try to assist the Chicago Police Department in reducing gun-related crimes."

Sen. John Cullerton, D-Chicago, praised the governor's public safety initiative.

"This is not only the right step, but also a necessary step to improve public safety in Illinois. One-third of all highway fatalities are attributable to excess speed," Cullerton said. "I was proud to sponsor the red-light photo enforcement legislation that dramatically reduced fatalities in the areas where it is in use, and I look forward to working with the governor and my peers in the General Assembly to quickly make this common-sense proposal a reality to further reduce fatalities."

The photo enforcement cameras will be strategically placed in high-speed corridors and high crash areas as determined by enforcement and crash data.

"As we continue to aggressively seek new ways to enhance public safety, the Illinois State Police welcomes this new approach to encourage motorists to slow down. Although we've clearly made progress to reduce fatalities, I believe we can do better," said Larry G. Trent, state police director.

"Photo speed enforcement has been an effective tool in work zones across the state in helping to reduce fatal crashes," said Milt Sees, secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation. "By implementing this initiative on the interstate systems, we will only increase our efforts about the importance of following the posted speed limit on Illinois roadways. Speeding is one of the top contributing factors in crashes on Illinois roadways, and we are pleased to help drive any effort forward that contributes to saving more lives."

With the additional 500 troopers hired with revenue from the new safety initiative, the Illinois State Police will create 10 elite statewide enforcement teams to focus on gangs, guns, and criminal and traffic activity within communities throughout the state that are experiencing high crime. The remaining officers will focus on all aspects of public safety, including some new initiatives, such as an anti-DUI strike force, fatal crash investigative follow-up teams, child victimization and death review units, and cold-case homicide investigations.

Meanwhile, effective immediately, the Illinois State Police will also work in conjunction with the Chicago Police Department, redeploying troopers to the Chicago area in an attempt to reduce violent crime in the city of Chicago and collar communities. Multiple strategic enforcement teams will increase patrols in the area; experienced investigators will be assigned to the anti-gun enforcement unit of the Chicago Police Department; and criminal intelligence analysts will be reassigned to create a gang intelligence unit.

The strategic enforcement teams will patrol the Dan Ryan and Eisenhower expressways near high crime areas within the city of Chicago. State police officers will aggressively enforce Illinois traffic and criminal laws and assist Chicago police within the city as requested. State police officers will also patrol high crime areas in the collar communities.

Investigators assigned to anti-gun enforcement will concentrate their efforts on tracing the history of weapons located at or near crime scenes. Instead of focusing exclusively on the crime itself, the enforcement unit realizes that gun violence can be reduced by investigating individuals who purchased guns used in crimes. Officers will focus on arresting and prosecuting the purchasers of weapons who are the source of illegal weapons.

The state police will also appoint a statewide gang coordinator and expand the Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center through the assignment of criminal intelligence analysts. Analysts will work 24/7 on this initiative to provide a strategic focus for statewide gang intelligence, concentrating on gang hierarchy, methods of gang operations and gang territories. Additional state police resources, including fixed-wing air support and manpower for special events, are available upon request by the Chicago Police Department.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]