Speed Camera Ord Passes

Speed cameras are coming to Chicago.

Aldermen on Wednesday signed off on Mayor Rahm Emanuel's plan to put the traffic cameras near parks and schools. The ordinance passed 33 to 14.

http://www.wbez.org/news/chicago-city-council-approves-speed-camera...

Dunno what such reactionary/conservatives are doing reading the WBEZ blog, but there are several super unproductive comments. If you have a minute and care, you might want to respond to some of them.

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Permalink Reply by Vilda on April 20, 2012 at 1:54am

That's a justification they are using cause motorists are just as dumb as everyone else. Like "I never drive past parks or schools so I'll be fine." Lane Tech at western and addison. Gonna be a big money generator for the city as well as excellent monitoring position for the city. And really Fuck the kids! They aren't mine, I don't care. ;-)

h' said:

And Big Brother is especially interested in monitoring our movements near parks and schools.

Gabe said:

I drive for a living and have never had a moving violation. Ever. This is Big Brother pure and simple and it's nonsense. More camera's means more means to track humans as well as vehicles. Backing this is garbage.

Permalink Reply by Adam "Cezar" Jenkins on April 20, 2012 at 3:19am

Yup. I don't have to worry. Now I'm going to have to worry a bit less of someone plowing me down because they decided to go 50 because the police decided speeding isn't a crime.

Like I said. If you don't like it, don't drive.

Gabe said:

Adam, do you have a job for me? And no YOU don't have to drive, but YOU do have to walk or ride your bike and don't you worry your pretty little head cause Da Mayor is watching.

Permalink Reply by David on April 20, 2012 at 3:48am

No, it's rather that the focus on parks on schools provides some political cover for the revenue grab.

That said, I don't really understand the "revenue grab" argument.  I agree with those who say that the city's goal here is more about revenue generation than short-term safety improvements, but what's wrong with that?   The city needs money, and I'd rather raise it from speeders and red-light-runners than most other identifiable groups.    Even from a utility standpoint, I think this is a group that is responsible for massive negative externalities and so deserves to be taxed higher.

The Big Brother argument gives me pause, I worry about the proliferation of police surveillance devices in Chicago.  But the revenue argument doesn't bother me one bit. 



h' said:

And strangely, the city is particularly interested in collecting additional revenue from people speeding near parks and schools. Is there some research showing people who speed near parks and schools are more likely to pay up?

Permalink Reply by Duppie on April 20, 2012 at 4:18am

Using the Big Brother argument to be against speed cameras is a little quaint. Here are just a few Big Brother ideas that are reality or will be soon:

  • Most people carry a cell phone when out and about. Your movements can be tracked using your cell phone.
  • Over the last decade we have seen an explosion of private surveillance camera, a lot of them recording activities in public space.
  • Over 50 bars record your face and use it to gather statistics about their clientele (sex, age, influx/outflux of patrons)
  • The city already has bluelight cameras (safety surveillance) and red light cameras (traffic).
  • By 2015 every new car will be required to have a data recorder recording all kinds of vitals of your car, including speed. And about 85% of new cars sold today has some recording ability already.

I am sure that there are more examples that I am not aware of.

You worry about Big Brother now? I'd say you're ten years too late.

Permalink Reply by Liz on April 20, 2012 at 4:37am

Even on the busy streets that are near parks, the speed limit is still 30 mph, if you don't want a ticket, driver 30 mph in these areas.  It isn't some great oppression, and it really only changes the drive time by 1-2 minutes at the most.  

I couldn't stand all the people flying by me at 45 or 50 mph along Division or Humboldt drive when I lived off of Humboldt park. There is no reason to treat the parks like an expressway.  It made it extremely difficult and dangerous for me to ride through or around the park.  While I don't think they belong everywhere having speeding cameras at crosswalks near schools and parks isn't a bad thing.  Drivers shouldn't be going more than 30 mph.

Fines for driving six to 10 mph over speed limits are $35, and motorists caught going more than 11 mph faster than the speed limit will be fined $100, so even if you fluctuate in speed end up going 35 mph, you still wont get a ticket. 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on April 20, 2012 at 6:07am

The argument that resonates the most with me against the automatic cameras is that now the city, along with its corporate partner, have a vested interest in people CONTINUING to speed.

If these things actually worked and people actually slowed down they are going to cost the city, and the corporate partners a crapton of money.

I thought the idea was to slow people down -not make the city and the mob I'm sorry "corportate" partners hooked on the crackpipe of this new revenue stream. 

Permalink Reply by Liz on April 20, 2012 at 6:31am

So its a revenue grab, better in my opinion the city increase its income by fining people who park illegally, don't buy city stickers, run red lights and speed around parks than by increasing property taxes.  

You can make a much better public safety argument against traffic violations, even if it doesn't reduce the behavior, its fining the perpetrators accordingly.  The other sin taxes, really only target people who most just harm themselves (booze, cigarettes, gambling). 

Permalink Reply by Vilda on April 20, 2012 at 9:44am

I propose taxation on bikers in 3 phases. 1) Mandatory helmet law 2) Mandatory registration as a biker with the city. A placard will be given to you that MUST be worn on the front of your helmet whenever riding (for all people above 15 yrs of age (if you can work you can be taxed). 3) Camera's now in use at intersections for cars can record bikers blowing stop signs and red lights.

Enjoy your tickets. :-)

Permalink Reply by Vilda on April 20, 2012 at 9:45am

And Duppie, your right. Big Brother is everywhere, why bother fighting... Genius.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on April 20, 2012 at 9:53am

$10/gallon gas can't come soon enough.

Permalink Reply by Vilda on April 20, 2012 at 9:57am

Amen, and enjoy your 5 dollar can of corn. And your 10 dollar loaf of bread. Your food travels using gas powered machines. Man I thought bikers were smarter than this...

James BlackHeron said:

$10/gallon gas can't come soon enough.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on April 20, 2012 at 9:59am

Can't wait.

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