Big Brother is watching You

[airboss]

A reminder... Starts in July!

Illinois will begin using photo radar in freeway work zones in July. One mile per hour over the speed limit and the machine will get you a $375.00 ticket in the mail. Beginning July 1st, the State of Illinois will begin using the speed cameras in areas designated as "Work Zones" on major freeways. Anyone caught by these devices will be mailed a $375.00 ticket for the FIRST offense. The SECOND offense will cost $1000.00 and comes with a 90-Day suspension. Drivers will also receive demerit points against their license, which allow insurance companies to raise insurance rates.

This is the harshest penalty structure ever set for a governmental unit involving PHOTO speed enforcement. The State already has two camera vans on line issuing tickets 24/7 in work zones with speed limits lowered to 45 MPH. Photos of both the Driver's face and License plate are taken.

clicky Here

 

[olsonm3915]

Photos of both the Driver's face and License plate are taken.

Really? So the camera also takes a picture of the back of my bike, and can identify my face behind sunglasses, inside a full face helmet?

 

[Geezer]

I doubt they will be able to identify the rider through a full face helmet, but they will probably get the license plate from the back. I'm not sure how that will play out in court if they can prove the bike was yours but can't prove you were riding it at the time. I suspect you'll still get to pay the fine but may beat the points.

Anyway, I will be riding through the land of Lincoln this summer so I appreciate the warning.

 

[mr.paul]

This should be interesting. I just went through work zones in Ilinois the past couple of months. Good I beat the time line for this.

I also wonder, how they will get a picture of my back plate, my face (behind a full-face with reflective shield) and prove that I was the one who was operarting the bike at that specific time. I suppose they could ask me...

"Sir, do you know how fast you were going?" "I suppose so officer, but if you need to ask me, I am guessing that you aren't sure. Do you want me to pace you and help see if your car is working?"

The judge doesn't understand...I was trying to help!

paul from Minnesota

 

[650cent]

Photos of both the Driver's face and License plate are taken.

Really? So the camera also takes a picture of the back of my bike, and can identify my face behind sunglasses, inside a full face helmet?

I have heard that if they can't identify you because of whatever, they will ask if you were driving/riding or to give the name of the person who was. They will issue the ticket to that person or you will get the rap. Now if it was stolen?

 

[mdisher]

Another good reason for something strapped on the bike that hangs loose enough to obscure the plate number.

I'm thinking I got nailed by a red light camera last night taking the daughter to Soccer camp. I swear the yellows are shorter than they used to be, changed to red right above me.

I'll know more in a couple weeks.

******

 

[squeezer]

Anyway, I will be riding through the land of Lincoln this summer so I appreciate the warning.

Me too. Thanks.

 

[SilverHound]

Sorry to be of the dissenting opinion but I fail to see what the problem is in trying to enforce the law in a work zone. There are people working out there and clearly if drivers obeyed the speed limit there would be no justification for installing the cameras.

 

[user 213]

Another good reason for something strapped on the bike that hangs loose enough to obscure the plate number.
I'm thinking I got nailed by a red light camera last night taking the daughter to Soccer camp. I swear the yellows are shorter than they used to be, changed to red right above me.

I'll know more in a couple weeks.

******

Local city here got busted for installing red light cameras and shortening the yellows from 3 seconds to two to get more $$. big stink, changed the lights back, refunded some money, (not sure if the citations stayed on record), and promptly moved the red light cameras to new locations.

 

[radman]

Sorry to be of the dissenting opinion but I fail to see what the problem is in trying to enforce the law in a work zone. There are people working out there and clearly if drivers obeyed the speed limit there would be no justification for installing the cameras.

Should this be the case, it would be the first time in history speeding tickets are actually given out in the interest of safety. Everywhere else in the country it's a revenue enhancement ploy. This is especially true when the fines are exorbitant, like in hundreds of dollars, or even a thou.....oh. Never mind.

 

[ionbeam]

Sorry to be of the dissenting opinion but I fail to see what the problem is in trying to enforce the law in a work zone. There are people working out there and clearly if drivers obeyed the speed limit there would be no justification for installing the cameras.

Tidbits selected from the clicky that airboss supplied...

Photo Speed Enforcement will be used to increase safety in work zones on Illinois highways and to obtain voluntary compliance by motorists to obey posted speed limits. Motorists represent over 90% of the fatalities in work zones.

It also says, 'Workers do not have to be present to receive a speeding ticket in a work zone.' And then, goes on to say, 'When would photo speed enforcement be in use? Photo speed enforcement by an automated traffic control system may operate only during those periods when workers are present in the construction or maintenance zone, day or night.'

Thanks for the heads-up airboss.

Voluntary compliance my ass. Let me poke a weapon of pain in your face and give you the choice of doing what ever I say or I will take your money away and if you still don't do as I say I will take your driver's license away too.

 

[olsonm3915]

Sorry to be of the dissenting opinion but I fail to see what the problem is in trying to enforce the law in a work zone. There are people working out there and clearly if drivers obeyed the speed limit there would be no justification for installing the cameras.

As it happens I was just last month in the Land of Lincoln riding my FJR through the length of the state and had the opportunity to experience mile after mile of 45 mph construction zones where I (and my wife on her bike) were the only two vehicles for miles around that were actually traveling at or below 45 mph. I fully agree that people should not be speeding in work zones and have little sympathy for anyone who gets nailed for it. We had all sorts of people tailgating us apparently because they didn't think a strict 45 mph limit with a $375 ticket applied to them. Since I was from out of state and wasn't familiar with whether the local law would/could decide to do a little arbitrary revenue generation at our expense the smart thing to do was to keep it strictly legal.

 

[Auburn]

Another good reason for something strapped on the bike that hangs loose enough to obscure the plate number.
I'm thinking I got nailed by a red light camera last night taking the daughter to Soccer camp. I swear the yellows are shorter than they used to be, changed to red right above me.

I'll know more in a couple weeks.

******

If you entered the intersection (i.e. past the stop bar) while the light was yellow, then you legally have entered the intersection and you the right of way and should not be issued a ticket. The red light cameras are typically triggered by movement over the loops in the roadway and you would not be on the sensor.

 

[mdisher]

Sorry to be of the dissenting opinion but I fail to see what the problem is in trying to enforce the law in a work zone. There are people working out there and clearly if drivers obeyed the speed limit there would be no justification for installing the cameras.

I don't have a problem with them enforcing it, if there's actually WORK being performed when they are being used. If not then the speed limits are artificially too low and unnecessary.

Recently ran down I-86 as part of a BB run and MD2020, lots of zones, not a whole lot of work going on. When I rolled through traffic was relatively light, so 45/55 was far too low for the areas at the time IMHO.

-MD

 

[SilverHound]

Sorry to be of the dissenting opinion but I fail to see what the problem is in trying to enforce the law in a work zone. There are people working out there and clearly if drivers obeyed the speed limit there would be no justification for installing the cameras.

Should this be the case, it would be the first time in history speeding tickets are actually given out in the interest of safety. Everywhere else in the country it's a revenue enhancement ploy. This is especially true when the fines are exorbitant, like in hundreds of dollars, or even a thou.....oh. Never mind.

I am not advocating this technology nor am I so naive as to think that revenue generation is not a BIG part of their motivation. I'm just saying that speed limit is the speed limit regardless of whether we think it is fair or not. If you choose to express your dissatisfaction with the posted limits by speeding and ignore the warning signs which may be present to tell you that cameras are in use and what the fines are then the only one you should be upset with if you get nailed is yourself.

 

[rickcorwn]

This came up on the Team Strange forum and some one added this tidbit https://www.snopes.com/politics/traffic/illinois.asp

Not sure how this might or might not pertain to the email airboss got but...

Construction zones are especially dangerous for motorcyclists for many more reasons other than law enforcment.

 

[Ignacio]

If you entered the intersection (i.e. past the stop bar) while the light was yellow, then you legally have entered the intersection and you the right of way and should not be issued a ticket.

As usual, people are trying to apply their local or state law to other states and localities. While this one point is true in Washington State...it is NOT true in all other jurisdictions. Many jurisdictions consider a red light run if you're not clear of the intersection.

The patchwork of state and local rules on automated tickets also varies wildly. Some require face pictures, some outlaw them, front and or back plate, who gets the ticket, infraction or modified parking ticket, mandatory court appearance or not, what happens when you ignore or won't rat out the real driver, etc. are ALL based on different state laws AND often different in the local jurisdiction.

Also the complication of what states are part of the compact for reporting. All this makes for a hodgepodge that makes it difficult to say with certainty unless somebody goes out and digs through the details. This also will be another call for subject matter experts to compile verified state and/or local information for possible inclusion in this area.

Meahwhile....let's be careful in this thread. Let's stick to the OP. It has valuable information, but invoking "Big Brother" in the title automatically makes it inflammatory. We'll try leaving this thread open as long as it remains non-divisive and pertinent specifically to the FJR or at least about motorcycles. Your collective assistance will be appreciated to keep the thread out of Rantville.

Thanks.

The Management

P.S. Thanks Rick. Adding documented information like Snopes only can helps things.

 

[user 213]

I really have no problem slowing down for active construction zones.

My biggest gripe is that the vast majority are false construction zones that go on forever with zero active construction or workers. This desensitizes drivers to real construction zones and frustrates everyone. I see construction zones that essentially amount to a large section of freeway littered with orange cones and barrels for no reason what so ever. Often with a State trooper waiting to write large fine citations. In OR, it's double the fine in a construction zone, for all citations.

I had a friend get popped for no seat belt, (took it off to deal with child in the back seat, then put it back on, LEO saw the whole thing, still cited her). Then to add insult to injury, doubles the fine due to construction zone. I measured 11 miles from the spot she was at when cited to any actual construction work, or even cones. The entire 20+ mile bypass being signed as a construction zone.

Tip to construction zone workers - Stay out of the road and you won't get hit. As far as I'm concerned, if there is a concrete barrier between traffic and construction, there is zero need for traffic to slow down.

 

[radman]

I am not advocating this technology nor am I so naive as to think that revenue generation is not a BIG part of their motivation. I'm just saying that speed limit is the speed limit regardless of whether we think it is fair or not. If you choose to express your dissatisfaction with the posted limits by speeding and ignore the warning signs which may be present to tell you that cameras are in use and what the fines are then the only one you should be upset with if you get nailed is yourself.

I take it easy in the construction zones that actually have people working in them, always have. Far too often though in my travels have I seen cops sitting in the weeds near const. zones, and they are the only city/county/state workers in sight for miles. And I just don't like the camera concept, period. Lets install cameras in legislatures, politicians offices, police stations, and cop cars, along with voice recording, and see how they like being monitored, "in the interest of safety".