* NBC 5…
Just past the midpoint of 2021, the Chicago area is about to surpass the total number of expressway shootings for all of 2020.
As of Tuesday morning, the Illinois State Police had been called to 117 expressway shootings. That is more than twice the 51 shootings at this same time last year. And just short of the 128 for the entire year of 2020.
The menace of expressway shootings has been a vexing one for the Illinois State Police, who have previously noted to NBC 5 that the problem is especially severe here in comparison to other states.
And arrests are rare. Contrary to popular belief, expressway gunfire in Chicago is not typically spawned by road rage. Would-be victims often know their assailants and frequently refuse to cooperate with police.
* CBS 2 has been reporting on the super-slow rollout of expressway cams for quite a while. Here’s a story from early June…
But for years now, CBS 2 has tracked the delayed installation and upgrades of the cameras rolling on Illinois’ expressways. The 600 cameras up now still can’t record video.
Back in February, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced a $12.5 million investment of taxpayer dollars for cameras and license plate readers that will go up in 47 different locations – specifically meant to help investigate expressway shootings.
So, where is that technology now?
IDOT told us to ask Illinois State Police, who told us they’re still in the planning phase:
“In February of 2021, IDOT provided a $12.5 million grant to cover the costs of engineering, permitting, and labor associated with the purchase and installation of automated license plate readers (ALPR), controllers, servers/software, electrical power, and communications equipment required to install ALPR systems. The maintenance of the ALPR systems for up to two years is also included in this agreement. ALPR installations at 47 locations will include specialized cameras to read the license plate numbers of vehicles moving in traffic. The installations will also include a communication system to backhaul the video images to a central location where additional software is used to query and match license plates to existing license plate and vehicle databases. The purchase and installation of ALPR systems, software, and specialized cameras will aid in the investigation of Cook County expressway shootings. Currently, the Statement of Work is being finalized and a contract will follow to cover hardware and licensing for the next five years.”
* The law has been on the books since January of 2020. From a press release…
The Tamara Clayton Expressway Camera Act (Expressway Camera Act) was signed into law on July 12, 2019 and became effective on Jan. 1, 2020. On Feb. 4, 2019, Ms. Clayton was on her way to work when she was tragically shot and killed while driving on Interstate 57 near Cicero Avenue. ISP investigators responded and the investigation into her death remains open and ongoing. The Expressway Camera Act requires the ISP, IDOT, and Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) to conduct a program to increase the number of cameras along expressways in Cook County. The images from these cameras will not be used for petty offenses, such as speeding
One of the bill’s original sponsors, Rep. Thaddeus Jones, was so incensed by the delay that he called for the resignation of Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman in January.
- Captain Obvious - Wednesday, Jul 7, 21 @ 8:36 am:
One more failure under the Pritzker regime, but at this point who’s counting? Not like there is any need to hurry this along. The probability of getting shot on the freeway is still pretty low. Much lower than say, dying of Covid, so I am sure they will get this done eventually.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jul 7, 21 @ 8:39 am:
Looks like another expressway shooting this morning that injured three law enforcement officers. Cameras won’t prevent these shootings but might make it easier to catch the shooters.
Maybe IDOT and ISP ought to make this more of a priority?
- Back to the Future - Wednesday, Jul 7, 21 @ 8:55 am:
Agree with Rep. Jones.
This is taking longer than it took General Eisenhower to plan the invasion of Normandy.
The technology is available so it would seem all that is needed is a camera, a drill, a pole and a worker with a truck to get started.
- NIU Grad - Wednesday, Jul 7, 21 @ 9:32 am:
“IDOT told us to ask Illinois State Police”
Public finger-pointing is a sign that these two agencies aren’t working well together to make this a priority. If this was a priority, there would be a contact in the Governor’s office ensuring these two are putting together pettiness and working together. Where is the public safety advisor to take charge of this mess?
- Techie - Wednesday, Jul 7, 21 @ 9:44 am:
@Back to the Future
It’s a bit more complicated than just having the equipment. Getting a statement of work with a vendor/contractor to ensure the full scope of work will be done is necessary.
But that said, this does seem like it’s taking much longer than it needs to.
- Back to the Future - Wednesday, Jul 7, 21 @ 10:43 am:
Techie
Of course, agree with you that certain steps need to be taken in awarding contracts to outside vendors, but thinking IDOT and the State Police along with the Geek Squad from Best Buy could get this done in less than 2 years.
Just thinking the installation of appx. 47 cameras can not be that big a deal- - even for Team Pritzker.
Rep. Jones did the work to get this approbation and he is rightfully concerned that someone dropped the ball on this.
The state needs to do it’s part in curbing the increasing violence in the state.
- From DaZoo - Wednesday, Jul 7, 21 @ 10:45 am:
There are a lot of moving parts here that people don’t fully understand. At a high level, we’re talking about procurement law/rules and funding accountability. The TCECA provided Road Fund (i.e. IDOT) money to ISP. While IDOT has paid for ISP Troopers in construction zones, this funding is a different process which requires oversight and additional agreements. No one wants another red light camera boondoggle. No one wants to be fired or go to jail if State resources are found to be misappropriated when there’s an investigation. Given the public scrutiny, there will likely be an investigation in the future.
Could this have moved along a bit faster? Sure. I suspect some delay happened looking into using existing cameras along the expressways. Unless an “emergency” is declared, there’s processes that both agencies have to adhere to that take time.
- 17% Solution - Wednesday, Jul 7, 21 @ 10:54 am:
== The state needs to do it’s part in curbing the increasing violence in the state.==
The state just did something that will cut down on crime.
Did you see the state is funding more mental health and substance abuse Medicaid payments?
Mentally ill people are way more likely to be victims of a crime.
And mentally ill people aren’t likely to be influenced by a justice system that focuses on consequences.
==Would-be victims often know their assailants and frequently refuse to cooperate with police.==
Cameras would be helpful, but funding and making people aware of Illinois’ witness protection program would be more effective.
- Huh? - Wednesday, Jul 7, 21 @ 1:04 pm:
Intelligent transportation systems such as an area wide camera system are some of the most complex systems. ITS specifications are detailed to the nuts and bolts used to connect the wires to a camera. It is not as simple as walking into a best buy. I know enough about ITS to stay away from it. It’s not anywhere near my expertise.
- thechampaignlife - Wednesday, Jul 7, 21 @ 2:22 pm:
$12.5M for for 47 cameras? We could give out 125,000 dashcams to the public for that price. Which do you think will catch more crimes?
- fs - Wednesday, Jul 7, 21 @ 2:23 pm:
== There are a lot of moving parts here that people don’t fully understand. At a high level, we’re talking about procurement law/rules and funding accountability. The TCECA provided Road Fund (i.e. IDOT) money to ISP. While IDOT has paid for ISP Troopers in construction zones, this funding is a different process which requires oversight and additional agreements. No one wants another red light camera boondoggle. No one wants to be fired or go to jail if State resources are found to be misappropriated when there’s an investigation. Given the public scrutiny, there will likely be an investigation in the future.==
Procurement for much more complicated deals do not take two years. That’s a fallback excuse for what seems to be bad communication between the agencies. As someone else stated above, these are things the Governors office should be assisting in prioritizing. If they actually view it as a priority, that is.
- DuPage - Wednesday, Jul 7, 21 @ 2:44 pm:
They should check with the tollway. The tollway set up cameras that record every vehicle and every license plate. Find out what brands of camera work the best. Also which vendors were reliable and any that did not work out.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Wednesday, Jul 7, 21 @ 3:01 pm:
==We could give out 125,000 dashcams to the public for that price. Which do you think will catch more crimes?==
The state owned cameras. Does your calculations include the cost of subpoenas for people’s personal dash cams?
- Occasionally Moderated - Wednesday, Jul 7, 21 @ 3:26 pm:
It doesn’t matter what worked for the tollway.
All that matters is what works with the onerous state purchasing process.
- From DaZoo - Wednesday, Jul 7, 21 @ 3:37 pm:
@fs ===Procurement for much more complicated deals do not take two years. ===
Correct. Early communication between the two agencies was probably not where it needed to be. Also, I did mention a delay in attempting other solutions first.
- Occasionally Moderated - Wednesday, Jul 7, 21 @ 4:18 pm:
State police proposed alprs many years ago and sought out a grant to fund it. Idot would not allow the installation of the equipment due to perceived privacy issues.
- thechampaignlife - Wednesday, Jul 7, 21 @ 8:54 pm:
===Does your calculations include the cost of subpoenas for people’s personal dash cams?===
If just 10% willingly provide the footage, that is 12,500 cameras collecting evidence all over the state vs 47 at fixed points with minimal chance to catch a crime.
- ILL NOISE - Wednesday, Jul 7, 21 @ 9:18 pm:
Perhaps a little more pressure from another party would would create the leverage and incentive to get things done. Not here where identity politics matter more than lives.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 6:28 am:
== If just 10% willingly provide the footage,==
If I owned a magical flying unicorn I’d never have to use my iPass.
Did you calculate the cost of the police trying to find out who has dash cams with evidence on it?
- thechampaignlife - Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 12:24 pm:
===Did you calculate the cost===
Did you calculate the cost of not having any evidence of the crime, and the perpetrators continuing to go scot free?
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 1:47 pm:
=== Did you calculate the cost of not having any evidence of the crime, and the perpetrators continuing to go scot free?==
Good thing the Illinois State Police is planning to install those cameras then.
- thechampaignlife - Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 4:59 pm:
Yep, all 47 of them. I am amazed at how advanced their technology is. The camera resolution is so great that just 47 cameras can cover 16,000 miles of road.