SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Legislature
approved a measure Wednesday authorizing speed-enforcement cameras around
Chicago's parks and schools, a win for Mayor Rahm Emanuel who argued it was
needed to protect pedestrians.
Cameras would monitor traffic near schools and send
$100 tickets to motorists in cars going more than 5 mph over the limit. The
ticket would not be considered a moving violation.
The measure, which was previously approved by the
Senate, cleared the House on a 64-50 vote. A spokeswoman said Gov. Pat Quinn
has not decided whether to sign it.
"We can protect our children. We can show a
significant reduction in speeding. That'll lead not to just fewer fatalities,
but it'll lead to a lot of less serious injury along the way," said the
bill's chief house sponsor, Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, a Chicago
Democrat.
However, critics compared the cameras to similar
machines in populated areas that catch those ignoring red lights. They say they
don't improve safety but produce huge revenues for local governments. They also
question the reliability of the photos.
"This is going to hit local taxpayers in their
own neighborhoods. It's going to hit them repeatedly. And we've heard before
there are many, many mistakes with these cameras. I think it's a nightmare that
we open up and allow this," said Rep. Jack Franks, a Marengo Democrat who
voted against the plan. "This is just a rotten idea."
In a statement, Emanuel commended legislators for
approving the bill, calling it "another step in our comprehensive plan to
protect children from harm."
The legislation allows the Chicago City Council to
authorize the use of the speed cameras starting July 1, 2012.
Related legislation passed Wednesday by the House
would allow cameras around schools to operate from 6 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Monday
through Thursday and until 9 p.m. on Friday. Cameras near parks would operate
an hour before parks open and an hour after they close. That legislation must
be approved by the Senate.
Copyright
2011 The Associated Press.
