Warnings for speeding will begin to be issued this week from Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras in the Children’s Safety Zone near Legion Park on the Northwest Side, Welles Park on the North Side and Morgan Park High School on the Southwest Side.

The Legion Park camera at 3137 W. Peterson Ave. will begin issuing warnings to speeding motorists on Friday, January 3.

Three cameras near Welles Park, at 4433 and 4436 N. Western Ave. and 4432 N. Lincoln Ave., will begin issuing warnings on Saturday, January 4.

Two other cameras near Morgan Park High School, at 11153 and 11144 S. Vincennes Ave., will begin issuing warnings on Monday, January 6.

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.

After the month-long warning period, 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.

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