Blagojevich to pitch camera enforcement of speed limits

Despite mixed results so far with camera-enforcement technology, Gov. Rod Blagojevich wants cameras on the state's highways to issue tens of thousands of speeding tickets that would pay for more state troopers.

If approved by state lawmakers, the Illinois State Police will set up 108 cameras to catch speeders going both directions on potentially every major highway.

Such technology is currently in sparse use in other states and countries.

Illinois has already proved to have difficulty with cameras used to catch toll cheats and speeders in work zones.

Most recently, it took the tollway more than a year to send out toll violation tickets, leading many drivers to unwittingly rack up thousands of dollars in fines, a Daily Herald investigation revealed this year.

The report also raised questions about the system's appeal process and mailing procedures, which have yet to be addressed. Measures introduced in the Statehouse to provide tighter guidelines have failed to gain approval.

Work zone cameras, installed in roaming vans centered on construction zones, took about two years to get operational after the law was signed in 2004.

However, officials say they have proved successful since then, issuing scores of $375 tickets an hour.

The latest proposal would mark the most expansive use of camera enforcement in the state.

The governor's office estimates the $4 million system would raise $40 million to hire 500 more troopers. The new officers could be used to create 10 teams that would target high-crime areas throughout the state, the governor's office says.

Fines would be set at $75.

Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero says the plan is "still in its infancy," but he added the cameras will not go after small-time speeders.

"It would allow us to go after drivers that are way over the speed limit," he said. "It is not like some guy going 7 or 10 miles over."

Currently, cities and counties across the Chicago area are raking in tens of millions of dollars by installing cameras that send out $100 fines for blowing red lights or, in some towns, send out tickets when cars violate railroad crossing gates.