New law allows local governments to use photo enforcement at
railroad crossings
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[MAY 25, 2006]
SPRINGFIELD -- A traffic safety measure Gov. Rod. R. Blagojevich signed May 16
is designed to make Illinois'
railroad crossings safer by giving local governments the ability to
use photo enforcement at rail crossings. The governor signed
Senate Bill 2865, sponsored by Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, and
Rep. Angelo "Skip" Saviano, R-Elmwood Park, which gives local
governments authority to use photo enforcement to crack down on
drivers who go around lowered crossing gates.
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The legislation comes in response to an accident the evening before
Thanksgiving last year, when a Metra express train crashed into
several cars trapped in rush-hour traffic at the Grand Avenue
railroad crossing in Elmwood Park, injuring 16 people. "Photo
enforcement is a good way for the police to enforce railroad
crossing signals and keep drivers safe," said Blagojevich. "Now that
drivers know they'll be photographed if they go around lowered
crossing gates, hopefully they won't do it."
Senate Bill 2865 gives the Illinois Department of Transportation
and the Illinois Commerce Commission the authority to work with
counties and municipalities to establish a system of automated
enforcement at railroad crossings. The system consists of a camera
or cameras at a rail crossing to capture pictures of vehicles and
drivers that go around lowered gates or stop on railroad tracks.
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![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2006/May/25/images/ads/current/maple_ridge_9-24-04.jpg) When a violation is recorded, the owner of the vehicle will be
mailed a traffic citation. A violation of this provision is a petty
offense, punishable by a $250 fine or 25 hours of community service
for a first offense. A second or subsequent violation is a $500 fine
and can lead to a six-month suspension of vehicle registration.
"Going around lowered crossing gates is extremely dangerous. We
need to crack down on the drivers that are willing to take that
potentially deadly chance, and I am confident that photo enforcement
will help local law enforcement prevent tragedies like last
Thanksgiving's in Elmwood Park," said Saviano.
"No one was killed in the accident in Elmwood Park last year. We
might not be so lucky next time. This legislation offers a proven
method of reducing the number of motorists who cross railroad tracks
against the signals, risking their own lives and the lives of
others. I'd like to thank Governor Blagojevich for signing this
important legislation into law. I have no doubt that it will save
lives," said Harmon.
Senate Bill 2865 takes effect Jan. 1, 2007.
[News release from the governor's
office]
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