Speeding Camera Ordinance Passes Committeee

By Chuck Sudo in News on Apr 12, 2012 2:40PM

Mayor Emanuel's proposed speeding camera ordinance that could blanket the city in surveillance cameras passed the City Council Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Wednesday and will go before the full Council next week.

The Emanuel administration tweaked the ordinance a bit to make it more palatable to opponents. They've reduced the number of camera locations to 300 and fines for being caught speeding to $35. Motorists who exceed posted speed limits by more than 11 MPH will be fined $100.

Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein said aldermen would be notified before cameras are installed in their wards, but wouldn't have veto power. Klein also said he doubted if the city would install the full 300 cameras and that an advisory committee of citizens, CDOT staffers and aldermen would have input on where cameras would be installed.

Some aldermen are still asking questions about the legislation now known as the "Children's Safety Zone Ordinance." 35th Ward Ald. Rey Colon asked how cameras will determine when the current 20 MPH speed limit while children are present in school zones will be enforced. Klein said a third level of review, in addition to the two current levels used to determine red light camera enforcement, will be added.

While aldermen and residents are questioning the expansion of the speed camera network, the Active Transportation Alliance has come out in support of the ordinance. Executive director Ron Burke said in a statement:

"Crashes are a problem that affects everyone in all neighborhoods of this city. Better speed enforcement will make it safer for everyone on our streets, including people in cars, those who choose active transportation, and those who do not have a choice but to walk or bike."