[smithrh]

OK folks, they're starting to go a little nuts with the laser and general speed enforcement in the Chicago area - including the tollways.

This morning I saw 4 people pulled over. Yes, I know some of this is due to the holiday weekend but much is not. I regularly see Cook County Sheriff on the tollways now, running laser, and even the tollway cops are pulling people over during rush hour, which I can't say I've ever seen before.

Fair warnin!

[wt1110]

They have to find some way to balance out the deficit that they got themselves into.

[CubanJJ09]

Nothing new. It's a holiday weekend like u said

[nick 55]

Just about every weekday, Rt 59 just south of North Ave. has a black and white sitting in the weeds waiting with his Laser gun for some poor bastard to wander by just a little too fast. Naperville/Aurora/Plainfield all joined together and caught 30 street racers a couple weeks ago 1/4 mile from my house. Not too many got away since they were in Civic's and CRXs though. Good thing we weren't out in the BMW that night, we probably would have been rounded up just because of the way it looks. The cop said that they have been really cracking down on street racing in the area.

Nick

[CubanJJ09]

North ave is a fuckin bee hive for po po

[Vudoo4u2]

EVERYONE is affected by recession, including chi po....theyre out doing their job more vigorously because they know people break the law, its just a matter of catching them when they do

[ucla1995]

I think Chicago got a reputation as having some of the highest speed expressways in the country (during non-rush hour of course). For example go out there at 1am on a Sat morning and you'll see all kinds of Lambos, Ferraris, etc letting their cars loose. My guess is the state finally felt something had to be done.

I drove up to Wisconsin LAST WEEKEND and saw 4 people pulled over on 94 between the Edens Spur and Gurnee, so it's not just a Memorial Day holiday thing I don't think - unfortunately. I make that drive a lot over many years and have NEVER seen that many people pulled over, ever.

[chicagolab]

close to the end of the month unofficial quota and holiday weekend = lots of tickets.

On tollway 90 going west, the Barrington road exit had state troopers standing next to the tolls and stopping motorists to do checks a few hours ago.

[Green///Hell]

Expresslane on 90 depending on which direction the traffic flo is heading there are two troopers at each exit with KA and Laser

One scans and one rides up on you watch out. My radar detector has been going crazy but it hasn't been wrong

[smithrh]

To those of you saying this is nothing new, it is.

Been driving the tollways and expressways of the area for 20+ years, never seen enforcement like this. Up to a few months ago, it would be a real rarity to see anyone pulled over on the tollways, for the last few weeks it's been a regular occurrence, many times with more than one victim.

Traffic levels are also down tremendously due to the recession.

Maybe they figured out they could finally get the speeds in check - hell, I see them running laser during rush hour now!

[Payroll]

I've seen three cars pulled over on the inbound Edens in the past two weeks. I've been driving this strip regularly for the past two years and I've never seen anyone pulled over for speeding outside of these past two weeks. Haven't spent much time on the tollways, but if what you guys are saying is true, I'd venture to guess that this is more than just an end-of-the-month/holiday-weekend thing.

[ragingclue]

The tollways have been out of control lately. I don't even bother "going with the flow" in the left lane anymore. The cops are just everywhere and they have the discretion of picking anyone off they want to, because at all times, there are a bunch of people going at least 10-15 over. I'm happy with the reverse herd mentality. If you're obviously not the fastest in the immediate vicinity, you should be ok.

On a slightly different note, I've noticed speed traps all over the place in the Plainfield/Shorewood area (59/Black/Caton Farm) and even downtown Plainfield. I never had any idea there were even that many patrol cars in those small towns. Add Joliet to the mix, as they have their own little arm of the city and a satellite police station out there, and you've got a crapload of cops from three cities popping people left and right out there. Just saw a couple unmarked popos (grey Explorer and Impala) going to town on people all day on Memorial Day at Black and 59.

I've never seen so many cops in my life. Chicago is insane like that.

[Daya]

watch those construction zones!

I was headed west on edens and slowed down when I hit the 45 mph construction zone past the tollway, this car was coming up on me so I moved to the middle lane and 30 seconds later he was pulled over by an unmarked maroon Impala.

$375 minimum fine in a construction zone - sucks for him!

[ragingclue]

Originally Posted by Daya

watch those construction zones!

I was headed west on edens and slowed down when I hit the 45 mph construction zone past the tollway, this car was coming up on me so I moved to the middle lane and 30 seconds later he was pulled over by an unmarked maroon Impala.

$375 minimum fine in a construction zone - sucks for him!

Yeah they could sit on those 45 zones all day (like they do with the I-80 bridge). Up towards my work on 88, near 355, there is a huge 45 zone where people book at 70+ all day. I'd say flow of traffic midday averages 60+. If you're going 50, you get damn near run off the road, even if you're in the right lane.

[smithrh]

If this is a permanent change, I'm a gonna be pissed...

I remember one time when I-355 was new I was on I-88 westbound and was going nicely. I never noticed the tollway cop exit from 355 into my blind spot, pacing me at 90 or so for what had to be a mile or so, he got tired of it and pulled away from me.

That's when I knew the tollways were safe to go zoom zoom zoom. Heck, if you can't get pulled over for close to 90...