It’s just a bill…
Tuesday, Apr 21, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* But I’m sure lots of folks will like it…
State Representative David McSweeney’s (R-Barrington Hills) bill banning red light cameras will advance to the House Floor after the House Cities and Villages Committee approved the measure yesterday by a vote of 4-3. House Bill 173 would remove the authority of non-home-rule municipalities to operate red light cameras after January 1, 2017.
“Studies continue to confirm that red light cameras do not enhance safety,” Rep. McSweeney said. “In many cases, these cameras create unsafe conditions because drivers will slam on the brakes at a yellow light to avoid getting a ticket. Many Illinois residents rightly perceive these cameras as more about increasing revenue for local governments than actually keeping motorists safe.”
The bill is a response to investigations into the implementation and effectiveness of red light cameras. The implementation of such systems has been rife with abuse and is seen by many as more of a money making endeavor for local governments than a measure to promote safety.
“It’s become clear that these systems are ineffective, the benefits minimal, and the negative consequences on citizens unwarranted” stated McSweeney. “My legislation takes a significant step forward in dramatically reducing red light cameras in Illinois.”
Currently the Illinois Vehicle Code provides the authority to use red light automated traffic law enforcement systems at intersections in which cameras are used to photograph or video record a motor vehicle’s failure to stop and yield as required by traffic control signals. Eight counties in Illinois currently have that authority. The bill would take effect January 1, 2017.
* License plate enthusiasts may not like this bill, though…
The Illinois House Monday took a first step toward possibly ending the dizzying proliferation of specialty license plates in the state.
By a 108-1 vote, the House approved a bill that calls for creation of a universal specialty plate that can then be sold to support a variety of charitable causes.
If the bill eventually becomes law, the state would no longer issue new plate designs for charitable causes approved by the legislature.
“It’s hard for police officers to keep up with every plate on the street,” said Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, sponsor of House Bill 1081. “It seems like we constantly have more and more plates coming before us. This would stop these plates from growing out of control.”
* And Sen. Jim Oberweis talks about his bill allowing Sunday car sales…
Oberweis says at first he thought his proposal would be championed by the car dealers, but quickly found out that wasn’t the case and there were lobbying groups in support of the Sunday sales ban. David Sloan of the Chicago Auto Trade Association says the bill, advocated by car dealer associations 32 years ago, helps car dealers in the marketplace where the competition is already heavy.
“They are working their tails off to compete and this is something that helps them.”
But, Oberweis says it is still fundamentally wrong for government to tell a business they can’t be open on a particular day.
“It’s wrong for government to do that. It’s wrong for government to do that even if the dealers want it. And it’s almost even arguably more wrong when the dealers are using this to prevent competition, to squash competition in the marketplace.”
Oberweis says a recent poll conducted by We Ask America found that by 2 to 1 consumers favor having the option of buying a car on Sunday. Illinois is one of 15 states that regulate car sales on Sunday with an outright ban from the practice. Last year, the Federal Trade Commission came out in support of lifting the ban saying the law limits choice for the consumer and unfairly stifles competition
* Any other bills you’re watching out there?
- Norseman - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 1:16 pm:
Darn, I was looking forward to the “I’m a Capitol Fax Blogger” plate.
- Just Observing - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 1:16 pm:
Oberweis is so on target with the auto dealership bill. The current law is being used to stifle competition and innovation. This is no role for government.
- Aldyth - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 1:25 pm:
Wow. I never thought I’d agree with Oberweis on anything, except the value of ice cream on a warm day.
- Jack Stephens - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 1:34 pm:
Could care less about car dealerships, but I guess he has a point.
What to do about bicyclists who fail to stop at any traffic control sign or device. Why arent bicyclists licensed? Required to carry liability insurance?
- M - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 1:37 pm:
I’ all for continuing the ban. It’s the one day of the week I can walk through a lot just looking without having the salesmen pounce.
- DuPage - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 1:40 pm:
Some of those specialty plates are hard for the computer license plate scanners to distinguish from other plates with the same numbers.
- Team Sleep - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 1:42 pm:
Norseman - but you can still order up “My blog beat up your blog!” bumper stickers.
- Joan P. - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 1:47 pm:
I hate those specialty plates. Most of the time you can’t even tell what state they’re from. I think I read somewhere that there are 193 of them! It’s nuts.
And (cue the sound of hell freezing over) I agree with Oberweis. I don’t think it’s any of the state’s concern whether a business is open 5 or 6 or 7 days a week. The state certainly has no business requiring a specific closing day. Has it escaped the GA’s notice that there are some people who have to close on Saturdays for religious reasons?
@ Jack Stephens -
Completely agree about bicyclists who ignore the rules of the road.
- former southerner - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 1:50 pm:
Please, pretty please drop the front plate requirement.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 2:00 pm:
Before that license bill is passed, perhaps an amendment could be attached requiring that all non-Illinois registered vehicles stop and pick up an Illinois license plate too - you know, to help get all those different and confusing designs off the roads!
There are probably over a thousand different license plates on US roads, which incidentally being in the middle of the US, means we’ve got thousands on our roads at this moment. So the argument that we need to reduce the number of differing designs is a very poor one to use unless we begin requiring that all vehicles driven upon our roads use Illinois approved plates.
It is the 21st century. What’s next? Demanding everyone wear a Mao suit?
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 2:04 pm:
DuPage, if you support that bill, I wouldn’t lead with that argument lol.
- Soccermom - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 2:10 pm:
“Oberweis says at first he thought his proposal would be championed by the car dealers, but quickly found out that wasn’t the case and there were lobbying groups in support of the Sunday sales ban.”
Hahaha — Jim, baby, we should talk sometime.
- walker - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 2:24 pm:
McSweeney’s all about local control, and keeping the state out of it, except when he’s not.
Some locals apparently abuse these systems. Some
do not, and have the facts to prove they have led to more safety. Let’s not paint a broad brush, and enforce a ban from above.
How about some guidelines based on best practices instead?
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 2:40 pm:
==What’s next? Demanding everyone wear a Mao suit?==
Well you’ve completely gone off the reservation. It’s a bill about license plates for crying out loud. Get. Over. It. The state can collect money for charity without providing a zillion different license plates to do it. Take a pill man.
- Buddy - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 2:40 pm:
The only people who have problems with the red light cameras are those who GET tickets for going through red lights. They deserve the ticket.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 3:00 pm:
Oh, yeah - forgot about you Demoralized.
Where do you buy those Mao suits you wear, anyway?
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 3:12 pm:
VMan
I hope you’re being snarky. That’s all I’m gonna say. Unbelievable.
- Namaste - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 3:25 pm:
How many of those supporting Oberweis’ bill would support a law to allow earlier sunday sales of alcohol? “The current law is being used to stifle competition and innovation. This is no role for government.”
- Steve - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 3:58 pm:
When sales people are paid a wage instead of commission and overtime after 40 hours, I am sure they would be all for working on Sunday’s.
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 5:21 pm:
Being able to buy a car on a day when the banks aren’t open would allow me to fulfill my dream of owning a Ferrari. And it would be an economic boost as more repo men would be needed across Illinois.
- DuPage - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 5:38 pm:
@Arthur Andersen 2:04
I am neutral on the bill, just making a technical observation why police would like it.
- DuPage - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 5:47 pm:
If they want to keep the red light cameras, they should be required to add a couple seconds to the yellow and have a big, easy to see countdown timer, 5-4-3-2-1-0. Otherwise take them out.
- nona - Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:02 pm:
So choice for auto buyers, but not for non-home rule municipalities that want red light camera. I guess everyone is for local control in principle, until they aren’t.