As part of the City’s efforts to increase public safety by reducing speeding, the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced today that the first set of Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras in three new School Children’s Safety Zones will be activated on Monday, August 20, in time for the students’ first day of school. The first cameras activated will be near 7131 S. South Chicago Avenue by the Gary Comer Prep School.

Traffic safety data shows that activated ASE cameras are helping to achieve the goal of making Chicago’s communities safer by reducing speeding. ASE program data shows immediate changes in behavior once the previous cameras have been turned-on:

• Speeding violations drop by more than half (53%) within 90 days after cameras are turned on.
• 81 percent of violators who were issued a violation in a School Zone did not violate a second time; in Park Zones, 67 percent of violators did not repeat the offense.

Starting on Monday, August 20, drivers who are caught on any of the three cameras near the school (7157 S. South Chicago Ave., 819 E. 71st St., and 7122 S. South Chicago Ave.) violating the speed limit will be issued warnings.

Only warnings are issued for the first 30 days after cameras are activated in a Children’s Safety Zone. The first time a driver who violates the speed limit on camera is eligible to receive an enforceable violation will instead receive a warning. Per city ordinance, fines for violations are $35 for vehicles traveling 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit and $100 for vehicles traveling more than 10 miles over the speed limit. The City is currently only issuing tickets to drivers going 10 or more miles per hour over the posted speed limit.

The City has installed ASE cameras in Children’s Safety Zones across Chicago in an effort to increase safety and reduce speeding. Revenue generated by the program is to be invested in critical safety initiatives and youth programs such as early childhood education, after-school programs and summer jobs programs for teens.

The Children’s Safety Zones are designated within 1/8th of a mile from Chicago parks or schools. The City ordinance establishing the program narrows the hours and locations of enforcement that are allowed under state law, and provides for the following:

The enforcement hours are limited to 7 am to 7 pm in safety zones around schools on school days (Monday through Friday)

• 7 am to 4 pm: 20 mph speed limit when children are present; the posted speed limit when no children are present

and

• 7 am to 7 pm: the posted speed limit

Two additional Child Safety Zones with ASE will be activated later this summer: at Major Hector P. Garcia MD High School, 4248 W. 47th Street (Formerly Uno School) on August 27 and Near North Montessori School, 1434 W. Division Street on September 5.