Chicago City Council approves speed cameras

Chicago City Council approves speed cameras
flickr/-Tripp-
Chicago City Council approves speed cameras
flickr/-Tripp-

Chicago City Council approves speed cameras

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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.

“If you don’t obey the traffic laws, and youre going to be one of these hotshots that is going to go through the community at 30 [or] 35 miles an hour, you deserve a ticket,” Ald. Ray Suarez of the 31st Ward said on the council floor before the vote.

Ald. Leslie Hairston of the 5th Ward spoke out against the ordinance. She said aldermen should get to decide whether their neighborhoods need the speed cameras.

“We were elected by our people to make decisions in our ward,” Hairston said. “And we should have a say so. Last time I checked I thought we were still a democracy.”

Speeders caught going 6 to 10 miles over the limit will get a $35 ticket. The fine jumps to $100 for drivers going 11 miles over the limit.

Aldermen voting against the ordinance include Hairston, Bob Fioretti (2nd Ward), Pat Dowell (3rd), Will Burns (4th), Roderick Sawyer (6th), Sandi Jackson (7th), Michael Chandler (24th), Scott Waguespack (32nd), Nick Sposato (36th), Brendan Reilly (42nd), John Arena (45th), James Cappleman (46th), Ameya Pawar (47th) and Harry Osterman (48th).

Listen to Sam Hudzik discuss this story on Afternoon Shift: