Illinois gov. Rod Blagojevich announced Aug. 7 that he wants to put cameras on each interstate in Illinois in the hopes of catching drivers operating their vehicles at excessive speeds.
Illinois already uses cameras to catch speeders in construction zones, but those cameras are mobile and move from site to site as needed.
Under Blagojevich’s new plan, the estimated $50 million generated from tickets would hire an additional 500 Illinois State Police troopers over the next three years.
In May, the latest effort to allow several downstate communities to install cameras at intersections was defeated in the Senate after being narrowly approved in the House. Illinois lawmakers have not shown support for similar programs in recent years, and this looks like no exception.
One critic, state Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, said he is not comfortable with the idea of using cameras to monitor the behavior of motorists. Sen. Mike Jacobs of East Moline joined Luechtefeld in voting against the proposal, as did Sen. Rickey Hendon, D-Chicago, who called red-light cameras “un-American.”
State Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, who authored one red-light camera bill, admitted that finding enough legislative support for Blagojevich’s plan might be tough.
“It certainly will be an uphill battle,” Brady said.
Currently, only counties in the Chicago and St. Louis areas can have red-light cameras.
