IL - IL State PD Dressing as Workers, Using Lidar!!!!!!!!!!!

[StlouisX50]

Motorists urged to slow down for construction

NEWS SUN STAFF REPORT

As road construction season revs up, state police and transportation officials are reminding motorists to drive carefully in construction zones.

"April is when highway construction really kicks into high gear and we need motorists to be watching out for and slowing down in our work zones," said IDOT Secretary Timothy Martin. "Our goal is to protect the lives of both the many dedicated workers out there trying to improve our highways, as well as drivers and passengers traveling through work zones."

On the Illinois Tollway, a 45 mph work zone speed limit is in effect in all construction zones. First-time work zone speeders will be fined a minimum of $375 regardless of whether workers are present. Second-time offenders are subject to a $1,000 fine and the loss of their license for 90 days.

Drivers should watch for signs that advise when work zones begin and end. Signs are posted a minimum of one-half mile in advance of a construction zone.


The penalty for hitting a construction worker is a $10,000 fine and up to 14 years in jail. Signs also are posted in work zones warning of the penalties. Drivers should keep an eye open for the orange and lime-green fluorescent safety vests that workers wear when near the road.

State Police will be enforcing work zone speed limits this construction season, including enhanced penalties for speeding in work zones.

"We are serious about enforcing work zone safety," Illinois State Police District 15 Commander Tami Haukedahl said. "We know that one of the biggest contributors to work zone crashes, and crashes in general, is speed and driving too fast for conditions. Work zones and the penalties for speeding on the Tollway and IDOT's roads are clearly identified, and those who choose to ignore the law will be ticketed."

This construction season State Police will begin using photo speed enforcement vans to take snapshots of license plates of motorists who speed through work zones on Illinois Tollway and IDOT roads.

The marked white vans are equipped with the latest in photo radar technology designed to record the speed of vehicles and to capture clear images of the driver and the license plate, regardless of the time of day or weather conditions. Tickets will be sent by certified mail to drivers within six business days.

In addition, "Operation Hard Hat" details continue in construction zones. This employs troopers with LIDAR guns dressed as construction workers and positioned in work zones to clock the speed of individual vehicles driving by. By radioing a vehicle description ahead to squad cars just outside the work zones, State Police then safely pull the speeders over and issue citations.

Illinois State Police District 15 also is continuing to conduct traditional speed enforcement in and around the construction zones, including special motorcycle details.

04/07/06

[f_399]

very sly

[StlouisX50]

Yeah, it sure is. I had posted a news article a few months back where there were leos posting as a broke down vehicle. They were sitting in the back of an old junked out pick-up truck with the hood up!

Now that, was sly!

[g_jammer]

Extremely Sly.

If I remember correctly, the ISP has (or had) a very strict policy regarding uniform. All ISP officers were required to be in full uniform, including the round ISP hat , when on duty outside their cruisers (very military like policy).

I guess that policy became a hindrance in their ability to write tickets.

It's funny that in one statement from the ISP in an other article you posted regarding enforcing speed limit laws in construction zones, the ISP said they do not wish to entrap motorists so they park a big white van in these zones with a "this is your speed" radar sign attached to the back....now their masquerading like one of the Village People to write $375 tickets? Typical ISP.

[StlouisX50]

It would be fun to find out where they are, and do the YMCA with them. AHAHHAHA :twisted:

[g_jammer]

It would be fun to find out where they are, and do the YMCA with them. AHAHHAHA :twisted:

That is hilarious, I will keep that in mind if I run across one of these guys.

[StlouisX50]

Here are a few photos I found

[411]

They use this tactics in Quebec , near Champlain bridge last summer .

All dressed as worker , the cops had a lot of customers , they used laser .

They do not choose the most dangerous location but the most practical location for ease of stopping the alledged speeders . And that is bugging , b/c the place they choose was a money trap not an behavioral changing habit for the drivers , just a money pit.

I agree to protect workers , too many drivers just do not care for other's life , it is just that the way the autorities do it = at the easiest spot they are enforcing a lot and the dangerous spots are sporadically enforced . If their tactics were fruitfull , we would see less and less accidents at construction zones , what do statistcis say ?

[StlouisX50]

I agree people should slow in construction zones. However you have the people who do way way way under the limit and create more of a hazzard and then you have the damn workers that are walking out in the road, have their ass hanging out in the road way ect. Which the driver is at blame!

[g_jammer]

I agree people should slow in construction zones. However you have the people who do way way way under the limit and create more of a hazzard and then you have the *BEEP* workers that are walking out in the road, have their *BEEP* hanging out in the road way ect. Which the driver is at blame!

These retards that drive 20MPH through construction zones are causing more problems.

The best way, without any doubt, to keep people from speeding through construction zones is to have Police Cruisers in PLAIN site.

If worker safety was the ISP's actual goal here, that is all they would have to do, no one is going to speed past manned police cruisers (and if you are dumb enough to do that, well Darwin's theory applies to you).

Anything other than this is simply to write tickets.