Speeding tickets will begin to be issued this week from Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras in the Children’s Safety Zones near Legion Park and Welles Park, while the 30-day warning period will begin for the new cameras near Jefferson Park and John Harvard Elementary School of Excellence.

On Friday, February 14th, newly installed ASE cameras near Jefferson Park, at 5471 W Higgins Ave. and 5432 W. Lawrence Ave., and near Harvard Elementary, at 7518 S. Vincennes Ave., will begin to issue warnings to motorists. Tickets will be issued from these cameras on March 30th.

On Sunday, February 16th, the ASE camera near Legion Park at 3137 W. Peterson Ave. will begin to issue tickets.

On Monday, February 17th, the ASE cameras around Welles Park are located at 4433 & 4436 N. Western Ave. and 4432 N. Lincoln Ave. will also begin to issue tickets.

In most locations, one camera system can enforce the speed limit for traffic traveling in both directions. In the Welles zone, Western Avenue is too wide to rely on one system, necessitating two cameras to accurately enforce traffic traveling in both directions.

The City will start enforcement by only issuing tickets for speeders going 10 or more miles per hour over the posted speed limit. That ticket threshold will gradually be lowered going forward. Fines for violations are $35 for vehicles traveling 6-10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit while in a safety zone, and $100 for vehicles traveling 11 or more miles over the posted speed limit.

The City plans to equip Children’s Safety Zones around parks and schools with ASE cameras in an effort to increase safety and reduce speeding.

Any revenue generated by the program is to be invested in critical safety initiatives including after-school, anti-violence and jobs programs; crossing guards and police officers around schools; and infrastructure improvements, such as additional signs, crosswalk markings and other traffic safety improvements.

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 will be limited from 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; 30 mph speed limit when no children are present 4 pm to 7 pm: 30 mph speed limit

• The enforcement hours around parks will be limited to only those hours parks are open (typically 6am to 11pm, 7 days a week) with a 30 mph speed limit.

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