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Controversial Pilsen Speed Cameras Issue More Than $330K in Fines

 A speed camera located at 1440 W. Cermak Road near Benito Juarez Community Academy in Pilsen has issued more than $218,000 in fines since October 2014.
A speed camera located at 1440 W. Cermak Road near Benito Juarez Community Academy in Pilsen has issued more than $218,000 in fines since October 2014.
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DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay

PILSEN — Five controversial speed cameras located in Pilsen issued hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines after they were installed, data shows.

Pilsen's most profitable speed camera, next to Juarez High School (1440 W. Cermak Rd.), was installed by the city in October and has issued more than $218,700 in fines, according to data obtained by a Freedom of Information Act request. In total, Pilsen speed cameras have issued $330,000 in fines since the first were installed in the neighborhood in April 2014.

The city's speed cameras issue a $35 fine to motorists caught traveling 10 mph over the posted limit and a $100 fine for cars going 11 mph or faster, city officials said this week. First-time offenders get a warning.

While it is allowed under current law, the city does not assess fines for drivers going between 6 and 9 mph over the speed limit.

In all, the Juarez speed camera has issued 3,122 warnings, 393 $35 fines and 2,050 $100 fines. The speed camera issues the most tickets between 3 and 4 p.m. daily.

Pilsen native Roberto Montano, who made an unsuccessful run for 25th Ward alderman this year, said that almost every voter he spoke with brought up the area's new speed cameras.

"The way it is now, you might feel ambushed," he said. "If it was a police officer in a marked car, you at least feel like you can explain. Maybe there was good reason for going 11 over in a 30 [zone]."

Two other cameras installed on Cermak Road — at 2326 W. Cermak and 2335 W. Cermak near Pickard Elementary School — issued $42,270 in fines since April 2014.

Two cameras installed on Western Avenue — at 2108 S. Western Ave. and 2115 S. Western Ave. — issued $73,955 in fines since June 2014.

The speed cameras near parks are on from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily and 30 mph speed limit.

In school zones, cameras are only active from 7 a.m to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday when school is in session. The speed limit differs from 20 to 30 mph, depending on if children are present in the area.

Ben Woodard and Tanveer Ali break down the speed camera data:

Citywide, the city has installed 146 speed cameras in 62 child safety zones, according to Mike Claffey, spokesman for the Chicago Department of Transportation.

Ahead of the runoff election in March, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the removal of 50 red-light cameras at 25 intersections, including at Damen and Blue Island avenues in Pilsen.

Here are all the stories looking at speed camera data across Chicago's neighborhoods.

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