Chicago Tribune Finds Faults With City's Speed Camera Program

David Kidwell and Abraham Epton report on the results of a Chicago Tribune investigation into the city of Chicago's speed camera program.

"Mayor Rahm Emanuel's speed camera program improperly issued more than $2.4 million in fines to Chicago drivers, ticketing them when cameras were supposed to be off and when the required warning signs were confusing, obscured or missing," according to the article's explanation of the findings of the investigation.

The premise of the investigation follows concern about the "complicated set of rules that govern when, where and how drivers can be tagged by the automated cameras now in place at 63 schools and parks throughout the city." 

The article insists that the Emanuel Administration has been selling the cameras "as a way to protect youngsters walking near parks and schools," but "the most prolific cameras in the 2-year-old 'Children's Safety Zone' initiative can be found along major roadways, where crash data show child pedestrians are least likely to be struck by speeders."

The reporters note that city officials have acknowledged mistakes with the system. Specifically, "[a]fter Tribune inquiries, the Emanuel administration says it is moving to issue refunds for nearly 23,000 tickets City Hall now admits should never have been mailed in the first place."

The article includes a lot more detail about the program, including how it relates to the city's also-controversial red-light program.