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Interstate cameras a tough sell for governor

BY KURT ERICKSON, The Southern Springfield Bureau

Thursday, August 7, 2008 3:58 PM CDT

SPRINGFIELD -- Don't expect to see cameras catching speeders on Illinois interstates any time soon.

Although Gov. Rod Blagojevich called Thursday for installing cameras in high-accident corridors across the state as a way to improve traffic safety, Illinois lawmakers have shown an aversion to similar programs in recent years.

In May, the latest effort to allow a handful of downstate communities to install cameras at intersections was defeated in the Senate after it had narrowly been approved in the House.

Among those helping kill the legislation was state Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, who said he's not comfortable with the idea of using cameras to monitor the behavior of motorists.

''We want to catch people who are abusing the laws of the state. I just don't think this is the way we want to do it,'' Luechtefeld said.

State Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, who authored one red-light camera bill, agreed that finding enough legislative support for Blagojevich's plan might be tough.

''It certainly will be an uphill battle,'' Brady said.

In an announcement in Chicago, Blagojevich said he wants to put cameras on each interstate in Illinois. The goal: Nab motorists who drive 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 latest plan, the estimated $50 million generated from tickets would hire an additional 500 Illinois State Police troopers over the next three years.

''The use of speed enforcement cameras on interstate highways throughout Illinois will mean that even more lives will be saved by targeting motorist that drive at excessively high and reckless speeds,'' the governor said in a prepared statement.

In the Senate, a wide cross-section of lawmakers voted against the red-light proposal, which would have given Bloomington-Normal and a few other cities the option to have red-light cameras that could take photos of scofflaws and send them tickets in the mail.

Now, only counties in the Chicago and St. Louis areas can have red-light cameras.

Among those joining Luechtefeld in voting against the red-light camera proposal were state Sens. Gary Forby of Benton, Bill Brady of Bloomington, Debbie Halvorson of Crete, Mike Jacobs of East Moline, Dale Righter of Mattoon, Dan Rutherford of Chenoa and Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville.

A chief critic of the red light proposal was state Sen. Rickey Hendon, D-Chicago, who is a top lieutenant of Senate President Emil Jones. Hendon called red-light cameras ''un-American.''

In the House, which narrowly approved House bill 5288, 39 members voted ''no,'' including Republicans and Democrats from every corner of the state.

Among the ''no'' votes was state Rep. Mike Boland, D-East Moline.

Boland said Thursday he changed his mind about using cameras for traffic enforcement after witnessing how it is working across the Mississippi River from his district in Davenport, Iowa.

''It's not that much of an imposition,'' Boland said Thursday. ''I think its really helped. I'm a little more careful of the speed limit now.''

It wasn't clear Thursday whether lawmakers will attempt to take up Blagojevich's idea when they reconvene after the November election or wait until next spring to begin debate on the issue.