I-Pass speed enforcement in Illinois

**skytrekker** · 10-20-2006, 10:41 PM

I've been frightened lately by laser warnings going through some of the
I-Pass arches. Sure enough, they have begun mounting lidar on the arches pointed at you as you enter the arch. They're mounted ahead of the cameras and lights that are aimed at your rear end as you leave the arch. Some arches have them, some don't. I've only recently been getting warnings. So it's new. So I wonder if this is used for traffic info or is it going to be used in conjunction with the I-Pass system in photo speed enforcement. If so, I'm getting my $10 deposit back.

**worldpower** · 10-21-2006, 08:47 AM

I also always thought that on eday they might use the information from your ipass to catch you on speeding,like if i have special plate that cant be read by camera,i will still be cuaght because of the ipass signal info, someone needs to find what exactly is going because i will want my deposit back too.

**WRC** · 10-24-2006, 06:49 PM

never heard laser speed camera in IL, however they DO have photoradar vans and use them around toll passes. I'm wondering what frequency they use and how much warning I will get. The state currently have 3 of them so they might be hard to spot but I wish somebody would know more about this issue

**worldpower** · 10-27-2006, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by WRC

never heard laser speed camera in IL, however they DO have photoradar vans and use them around toll passes. I'm wondering what frequency they use and how much warning I will get. The state currently have 3 of them so they might be hard to spot but I wish somebody would know more about this issue

ive passes by a few vans they work on K band and are very easy to detect

**worldpower** · 10-28-2006, 02:19 PM

I got a laser warning to day going through the i pass! I went throught going 80mph so ill update you if i get something in the mail cause it seems like they would not need to read the plates they just need your ipass info

**richardboy316** · 10-29-2006, 07:09 PM

got a laser warning going thorugh ipass tonight..pretty solid for like a few seconds before and then just 1 or 2 after..also was getting k band because they have a k-band speed sign telling you your speed next to the regular tolls

this was on 294 heading away from o-hare

**worldpower** · 10-30-2006, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by richardboy316

got a laser warning going thorugh ipass tonight..pretty solid for like a few seconds before and then just 1 or 2 after..also was getting k band because they have a k-band speed sign telling you your speed next to the regular tolls

this was on 294 heading away from o-hare

were you speeding when you went through the ipass?

**kpatz** · 10-30-2006, 06:42 PM

Some automated toll booth sensing equipment used in IPass/EZPass/etc. use laser for a number of possible reasons. It could be sensing speed, or size of vehicle (to determine the existence of a trailer), number of axles, or what have you.

The EZPass booths in NH cause laser alerts on both my RDs. Experimentation has determined that the source is overhead, coming from the ceiling of the booth. This rules out speed measurement as a likely use for the signal.

**richardboy316** · 10-30-2006, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by worldpower

Originally Posted by richardboy316

got a laser warning going thorugh ipass tonight..pretty solid for like a few seconds before and then just 1 or 2 after..also was getting k band because they have a k-band speed sign telling you your speed next to the regular tolls

this was on 294 heading away from o-hare

were you speeding when you went through the ipass?

no

and to kpatz

ive been though before and no laser..its got to be new

**skytrekker** · 10-30-2006, 07:58 PM

Yes, this is a disturbing finding. The thing is, it has been introduced just recently on I-Pass arches that have been up for quite some time. And I'm noticing more additions in recent weeks. They are not to detect the presence of a vehicle. They use a more reliable method with the tried-and-true inductive coils in the concrete - same as used as detecting vehicles at controlled intersections/traffic lights. I-pass express lanes have been without laser for some time, so I would assume that they are not necessary for toll operation.

So it is definitely being used for speed measurement. My bet is that it's just for traffic info. If they were to issue tickets, you'd be able to set up a lawn chair and TV in the I-Pass lanes and watch the game in peace.