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" Jarhead71:

It's a different type of radar... not the kind commonly used in patrol cars. This one has a very narrow beam which runs nearly perpendicular to the roadway. (Kind of like the "photo-finish" in a horse race.) The equipment is certified, tested by an officer before being put into service for any time period, and the results are reviewed and approved by an officer before your ticket is put in the mail. Ask for a trial and you'll get to question the officer who tested the equipment and approved the ticket. The only argument you can make is "that's not me in that very high definition picture." Having said that... I think the Pantagraph is correct in that the cameras will slow people down... I'm just not into the "slippery-slope" of government surveillance. "

" Pantagraph, some real legal issues with your proposal exist. Number one; how can I face my accusor in Court? Radar goes out in a 28 degree cone. It sees speed, size and closeness in proximity to the radar antenna, BUT does not distinguish between the three. So, a big truck could be speeding and the little car in the left lane get the ticket because it is assumed by the STILL photo that the car is the offender. OR, the little car is doing 60 and through an annomally of radar, the signal bounces from the car to the truck, back to the car and then back to the antenna which makes the car APPEAR to be going 90. No, I want to face a real human police officer in Court, not just a photo. "

" I am certainly glad I moved out of Illinois. ~ ~ More progressive state up the speed limits on limited access highways to 70 or 75 MPG. I can't remember the number of times I've driven from Bloomington to Chicago, hit traffic in Joliet and had to do 80 MPH just to keep from being ran over. Raise the speed limits and nail anyone hard that exceeds them by more than 10 MPH. "

" Just because the technology exists, doesn't mean it should be used to its greatest extent; think Hitler here, people...as was mentioned before, when does it stop?? Before Germany was taken over, the rights of the people were shaved of, little shave by little shave. By the time they realized all of their rights were gone, there was a dictator in power who threatened the very existence of the planet. Any questions?? THINK!!! Don't be "sheeple". "

" I've always wanted to buy one of those cool navigation systems that warns you about cameras, speed traps, but could never justify the expense, and it wasn't PC either. But now I can justify it all, and so can any other non-scofflaw driver. How?

The nav system will warn me that I'm coming to a location where the drivers in front of me will be exhibiting strange and dangerous behavior, like slamming on their brakes on a brand new yellow, or because they have "local" knowledge that a speed camera is hidden nearby. The electronic warning will save me from rear-ending them - an accident for which the law would automatically hold me to be responsible. Who needs an accident on their record?

Henry

So, what I'd like to see the pro-camera editors write next would be a really good Consumer Reports-like article telling me which brand of navigator works the best. (Hint to publisher: Doing the review of navigator products will also get the local sellers of them to advertise in the paper!) "

" It IS Big Brother-ism. Anything that consists of giving Big Government more control cannot be good. Like the Fix said, "one thing, one thing leads to another." Seat belt laws, no smoking laws, traffic cameras. The trend is NOT good, and the people of Illinois should NOT stand idly by as yet another freedom is taken from them. "

" Just how accurate are speed camera's going to be when in-town speed indicator's aren't calibrated correctly.

I drove by a speed indicator trailer, the other day, on Parkside Road by the elementary school. I was going 30 and the indicator flashed that I was doing 36 mph.

Makes one wonder, doesn't it? "

" I would like to see camera's at intersections first. Since no one stops for a red light, I think that would be a more important safety issue. "

" I think its a good idea,On South Main St. from the Dairy Queen to Wood St people drive 45 to 55 mph in the city.Way to fast and talking on the phone at the same time and when I drive to Decatur and going 70 ,90% of the time a car will pass me going 85 or more with a girl around 20 years old in it.Way to fast. "

" I don't like it. I speed a lot. I'm not proud of, but I'm not ashamed, either. I have had 12-15 speeding tickets since I started driving 22 years ago. In that same period I have had 0 accidents, nor have I caused any. I don't tailgate or cut people off. I pay attention to the road and the drivers around me. I really don't believe speeding is that large a factor in the number accidents, unless it is combined with inattentiveness. This would basicly be a moneymaking move by the state. "

" We can't lose sight of the fact that speed regulation is to protect us. If we didn't have limits we'd see people going 50-60 in town and 90 on the highways. Its the same for red light running. I have almost been hit a couple times by people who think that the red light doesn't apply to them. People have recently been killed here because someone ran the light and then they point fingers at each other. Maybe it doesn't happen often but when it does happen somebody gets really hurt or killed and it could be me or you or our families.

It doesn't work to have laws and no enforcement. Cameras are one way to save tax dollars because an expensive officer needn't just sit at the side of the road waiting for violations. What kind of citizen expects privacy while speeding or running a light on a public street? "

" Everyone should be issued an iPass, and speed and photoenforcement should be placed all over the state. Automatic ticket payment, budget shortfall eliminated. Try going 65 on I-55. I recently did, and passed 3 cars from Bloomington to Joliet. I was passed by a couple of hundred. Slow down, people! "

" I have no problem with cameras on the highway as long as the editorial writer will allow one in his home... just so we can see that he always obeys all laws. "

" The Pantagraph is correct here... but... the roots of the current problem with high speeds on the highway are: 1) The fines are too low to worry people. 2) "Court Supervision" keeps the ticket off of the offenders record and it's available by mail so why worry? 3) If there was an actual police presence on the highways the speeds would be slower... Chicago to St. Louis trips without seeing the po-po at all is common. 4) The camera idea is good, but what's next??? GPS in every car reporting to the police central "computer" how fast every car is going and a ticket in the mail for speed violations? (YES, GPS can tell you exactly how fast you are going.) "