By Fran Spielman
Chicago Sun-Times
CHICAGO — Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to use surveillance cameras to catch motorists who speed near schools and parks will start slowly with only a handful of accident-prone intersections, no more than 360 camera locations when the program is running at full tilt and two tiers of warnings to speeders, a top mayoral aide said Monday.
Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein said motorists caught speeding during the first 30 days after cameras are installed will get warning notices, even if they are stopped repeatedly. After the 30-day break-in period, the first violation also would be a warning-only freebie, the commissioner said.
Signs warning of cameras would be clearly posted. The city also plans a 90-day education campaign. “We have an extra warning built in. . . . This is about changing behavior around schools and parks for children’s safety,” Klein said.
In between aldermanic briefings on the speed-camera ordinance that Emanuel plans to introduce at Wednesday’s City Council meeting, Klein said it’s too soon to say how many cameras would be installed or when they would be turned on.
Legislation authorized by the Illinois General Assembly could pave the way for speed cameras within one-eighth of a mile of 1,800 schools, parks and playlots. The Emanuel administration is offering to cap the number at 20 percent of that - 360 locations.
“It’ll be gradual. We’re hoping to have at least some cameras up and tested with warnings sometime this fall. I don’t think you’ll see any tickets being generated until late 2012" at the earliest, Klein said. “This will be a very data-driven approach for the placement and monitoring of any automated enforcement devices for the safety of our kids.”
The mayor’s go-slow approach was not enough to satisfy aldermen. They’re complaining that the hours of operation are too long and the crackdown is a thinly veiled money grab.
Cameras around schools would operate on school days between 6 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 9 p.m. Friday. Around parks, cameras would start one hour before the park opens and stop one hour after it closes.
Drivers caught speeding six to 10 mph over the limit near schools and parks would face $50 fines and an additional $50 if the payment is late. The fine would rise to $100 for more than 10 mph over the limit.
“Cha-ching, cha-ching,” said Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30th).
Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) added, “I can’t think of many of my schools that run programs until 8:30 every night.”
Ald. John Arena (45th) said he was inundated with complaints.
“They’re saying, ‘Don’t do this to us. It’s over-reaching. It’s a money grab.’ That’s what we keep hearing,” Arena said.
Ald. Michael Zalewski (23rd) added, “Each alderman should be allowed to look at the hours of operation based on what’s happening in our wards.”
Klein hedged on whether the administration would be willing to reduce the hours of operation: “We’re looking at when children are around schools.”
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