Experts: highway camera bills on Pritzker’s desk ripe for abuse

By Patrick Andriesen

04/27/2022

Two bills on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk would spend $20 million to add license plate monitoring cameras to 6,600 miles of highways in 22 counties. Civil rights groups fret about abuse. Illinois State Police can’t say they increase safety.

TAGS: Illinois, interstate highway, speed cameras

Lightfoot reacts to record Chicago speed camera tickets with limited relief

By Patrick Andriesen

04/25/2022

Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced relief for low-income residents just weeks after an Illinois Policy Institute investigation found her lower threshold for speed camera tickets created more fines in 2021 than Chicago has residents.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, speed cameras

Illinois House passes bill to scan license plates on highways

By Dylan Sharkey

04/12/2022

The Illinois House approved a law calling for the installation of license plate reading cameras. Big Brother just wants to solve crime.

TAGS: Illinois, interstate highway, license plate recognition camera

House unanimously passes bill to let Illinois parents leave teens home alone

By Dylan Sharkey

03/03/2022

The Illinois House unanimously passed a bill to eliminate the nation’s strictest standard for how old children must be to be left home alone, now set at age 14. The bill lets parents decide when children are responsible enough to briefly be on their own.

TAGS: child abandonment, criminal justice reform, parenting

House bill would eliminate expungement fee for Illinoisans wrongfully arrested, convicted

By Dylan Sharkey

02/18/2022

House bill would eliminate expungement fee for Illinoisans wrongfully arrested, convicted

TAGS: criminal justice reform, expungement, Illinois

Crime surge, police exodus put Illinois criminal justice reforms in crosshairs

By Dylan Sharkey

01/24/2022

Eliminating cash bail and regulating police officers were parts of Illinois’ SAFE-T Act that some lawmakers blame for a rise in crime and loss of police officers. Republican state lawmakers want it repealed, while Democrats say it just needs tweaks.

TAGS: Chicago, crime, police, SAFE-T Act

Lightfoot admits speed cameras hurt low-income Chicagoans more

By Patrick Andriesen

01/12/2022

A university study of Chicago automated traffic cameras commissioned by the city found minority and low-income residents are hurt more. Researchers recommended the city reform the regressive system of fines.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, speed cameras

Chicago’s speed cameras ticket 8X faster after limit drops to 6 mph

By Patrick Andriesen

01/03/2022

Chicago’s speed cameras in 10 months churned out nearly as many tickets as the prior 3 years combined, handing every city household 2.2 tickets. The 8-fold spike came immediately after the city started ticketing at 6 mph over the limit.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, speed cameras

‘Home Alone’ in real life could land you in an Illinois jail

By Dylan Sharkey

12/13/2021

Illinois sees leaving a child younger than 14 ‘Home Alone’ as a crime, one that state employees have vigorously applied.

TAGS: home alone, Illinois, negligence

Illinois prison inmates to get ID cards upon release

By Dylan Sharkey

11/03/2021

Inmates should have fewer troubles returning to their lives thanks to a new program intended to hand them an ID as they leave Illinois prisons.

TAGS: identification, IDOC: Illinois Department of Corrections, recidivism