Update (June 2009): As mentioned in the anonymous comment below this story, this information actually came from a press release from 2005! Due to the ambiguous wording with "Starting in July...", the information seems to resurface every June. See the original press release here: http://www.dot.state.il.us/press/r033005.html. My original post from 2007 follows below.
This is pretty ridiculous, and I'm scared to see how much worse highway traffic is going to get as a result of everyone trying to avoid these fines, but starting in July the Illinois Department of Transportation, State Police, and Illinois Tollway are going to begin using cameras to log violations of those 45MPH workzone speed limits. Which means no escaping getting caught. And the fines are horrendous. $375 for the first time, and $1000 after that, as well as demerits on your license which affect your insurance rates and a potential license suspension.
I wonder if this will only be enforced during the day? Because it doesn't make sense to take those signs down and set them up each day, but at night people tend to ignore them because there aren't any workers around. All I know is I wouldn't want to risk getting one of these tickets. From IDOT:
Starting in July, State Troopers will deploy specially equipped vans that can take photographs of drivers speeding in IDOT and Tollway construction and maintenance zones. Tickets will be issued by mail to vehicle owners.That last part makes me think they might continue enforcing this, even at night.
Under enhanced penalties passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Rod Blagojevich last year, first-time work zone speeders, including those caught on camera, will be hit with a fine of $375, with $125 of that sum going to pay off-duty State Troopers to provide added enforcement in construction or maintenance zones. Two-time offenders are subject to a $1,000 fine, including a $250 surcharge to hire Troopers, and the loss of their license for 90 days.
Photo enforcement vans will be equipped with cameras designed to record a clear image of the vehicle and driver, its [sic] speed, and registration plate. The registered owner will not be liable if someone else is driving the vehicle.
Photo speed enforcement will be taking place at various construction zones around the state, including on the Dan Ryan and Kingery projects and Tollway projects in the Chicago area as well as various downstate projects.
IDOT and Tollway officials stressed the importance of complying with work zone speed limits even when workers are not present because of the dangers posed by features such as narrow lanes, lane jogs, reduced shoulder width, obstructions and drop-offs.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 26th, 2007 | 10:26am