Lawrence speed limit camera up
by CYRYL JAKUBOWSKI
A speed enforcement camera was installed on Dec. 5 on Lawrence Avenue on the south side of Jefferson Park, 4822 N. Long Ave.
The camera is able to capture traffic speeds of vehicles heading both east and west, according to Alderman John Arena’s chief of staff Owen Brugh. Brugh said that the cameras can track the speed of up to 10 vehicles simultaneously.
The city Department of Transportation plans to install cameras near 50 parks and schools by the end of the year. Brugh said that a speed camera on Higgins Avenue on the north side of the park is planned but that Arena is talking to the city to see if that one is necessary.
The city has not begun issuing any $35 citations to motorists driving 6 to 10 miles per hour over the speed limit, but drivers caught traveling more than 10 miles per hour over the limit are being issued $100 tickets.
Violators are issued warnings for the first 30 days after a camera is activated, and violators then will receive a warning for their first offense unless they had received a warning during the first 30 days. The fees collected by the city are used for safety improvements around parks and schools.
The cameras near Jefferson Park will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day of the week. The speed limit is 25 miles per hour on Higgins and 30 miles per hour on Lawrence. A department study showed that four out of 100 vehicles were found traveling at least 6 miles per hour over the speed limit near the park.
Speed cameras also have been installed near Sauganash School, 6040 N. Kilpatrick Ave., Portage Park, 4100 N. Long Ave., and Merrimac Park, 6343 W. Irving Park Road. Cameras located near schools have shorter operating hours than those near parks.
The tickets are reported to the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office as a moving violation, but are a citation that is similar to a parking ticket.
Workers install a speed enforcement camera in the 4700 block of West Lawrence Avenue adjacent to Jefferson Park, 4822 N. Long Ave. The city Department of Transportation plans to install cameras near 50 parks and schools by the end of the year. The city will issue $35 fines to motorists driving 6 to 10 miles per hour over the speed limit and $100 fines to drivers caught traveling more than 10 miles per hour over the limit. (Photo by Cyryl Jakubowski)
