Speeding tickets will begin to be issued next week from Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras in the Children’s Safety Zones near Lorca Elementary School, while the 30-day warning period will begin for the new cameras near Ogden Plaza Park.

The ASE cameras at 3230 N. Milwaukee Ave. and 3809 & 3810 W. Belmont Ave. near Lorca Elementary School have completed the warning phase, and will begin issuing tickets on Thursday, May 22nd.

On Saturday, May 17th, newly installed ASE cameras near Ogden Plaza Park, at 449 & 450 N. Columbus Dr., will begin to issue warnings for a 30-day period.

In most locations, one camera system can enforce the speed limit for traffic traveling in both directions. In these zones, Belmont and Columbus are 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.