200,000-Plus Warnings in 40 Days Proves We Have a Speeding
Epidemic   Workers prepare speed camera signs near Gompers Park.
Photo: Phil Velsquez, Chicago Tribune  On Friday the Chicago
Department of Transportation announced that nine automated speed
enforcement cameras near four neighborhood parks have issued
warnings to more than 200,000 speeders in the first 40 days of
operation. Of those violations, more than 200 involved drivers
going over 60 mph, at least twice the 30 mph speed limit. Ten
were traveling over 80 mph, and one motorist was driving a
terrifying 90 mph on city streets.  You would think that the
Tribune would respond to the news with a story about how these
numbers indicate that Chicago has a reckless driving epidemic.
Perhaps the paper would acknowledge that the cameras represent
an appropriate enforcement measure. Instead, the Trib clung to
its hypothesis that this safety initiative is merely a money
grab by the mayor, with the headline “Emanuel speed cameras may
bring in more revenue than e