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* Rep. Dave McSweeney’s red-light camera ban for non-home rule units is picking up lots of sponsors…
Provides that, after January 1, 2020, no non-home rule unit within the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair, and Will may enact or continue to enforce an ordinance for an automated traffic law enforcement system to enforce violations of intersection traffic control signals
* Capitol News Illinois…
It is a mainstay of fairs and carnivals around the country: sink a ping pong ball into a fish bowl and win the goldfish swimming inside.
But if a bill in the Illinois Senate becomes law, carnivals would no longer be allowed to award live animals — such as fish, reptiles and hermit crabs — as prizes.
Illinois’ Humane Care for Animals Act already prohibits rabbits, ducklings and chicks as carnival prizes, but Senate Bill 2472 would expand the law’s protections to all animals — including the goldfish that winners can take home in a plastic bag.
Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton, a Democrat from Western Springs, introduced the bill with backing from the Humane Society of the United States.
“This isn’t just a ‘goldfish bill,’” she said. “Carnivals across the country give out other animals as prizes, specifically iguanas and other exotic reptiles.”
An Illinois bill would allow drivers with certain medical conditions to tint all of their vehicle’s window surfaces.
Under existing law, it’s illegal to apply window tint to the driver side window or entire front windshield unless the primary operator of the vehicle has a condition such as albinism that makes sun exposure damaging to the skin. The law specifically prohibits issuing full surface window tint for “any condition, such as light sensitivity, for which protection from the direct rays of the sun can be adequately obtained by the use of sunglasses or other eye protective devices.”
State Rep. Maurice West’s legislation would allow for all window surfaces to be tinted if a driver has a medical condition, such light sensitivity due to brain trauma, that results in photophobia.
“They will get a special license plate that will tell our law enforcement that they are approved through the Secretary of State’s office,” he said.
* Rep. Katie Stuart’s HB3994…
Changes all statutory references of alderman and aldermen to alderperson and alderpersons. Changes all statutory references of congressman to congressperson.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 3:28 pm
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*Under existing law, it’s illegal to apply window tint to the driver side window*
I’m not sure if it’s just a poorly written summary of the current law, but the tint law currently allows tint on the windows adjacent to the driver. The percentage of tint allowed is based on the darkness of the tint on the rear windows.
Comment by Han's Solo Cup Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 3:35 pm
Great. Now where am I going to get my $30 goldfish?
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 3:38 pm
After we get rid of red light cameras, can we get rid of speeding tickets? I mean, while we’re deciding that enforcing the law isn’t a good idea…
I just honestly don’t understand the hate for this. If you think the operators are corrupt, get rid of them. Why stop fining people who run red lights?
Comment by Perrid Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 3:46 pm
Wait a minute. There are so many vehicles with the driver’s window tinted! I know because I glare at them and look to see who could possibly drive so poorly in my neighborhood when I walk my dog. A good portion of the time — I’d peg it at around 25% — I can’t see the driver’s face.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 3:48 pm
===Why stop fining people who run red lights? ===
Huge numbers of those fines are for not coming to a complete stop during a right turn on red.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 3:50 pm
Not stopping at a red light because you’re turning right is still against the law. If we don’t think it should be a law, then change the law. Don’t just stop enforcing it. But by the way, it’s a good law and should be enforced IMO.
Comment by NoGifts Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 4:17 pm
===Why stop fining people who run red lights? ===
Part of the issue is that the red light cameras appear to decrease certain kinds of accidents but increase other kinds. See here: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/red-light-cameras-may-not-make-streets-safer/
Certainly there are uses for automated traffic enforcement. Cameras that monitor speeding on highways is one. Monitoring bus lanes in Chicago for non-bus intruders is another. But the red light cameras don’t appear to be achieving their stated purpose of traffic safety.
Comment by Benjamin Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 4:39 pm
Get rid of red light cameras but make running a red light a mandatory attempted vehicular manslaughter charge.
It is reckless, deadly behavior. It’s a shame the cameras have become known only as a scam because there is a real safety problem out there.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 4:45 pm
Why just non-home rule Rep. McSweeney? Is he mad at Barrington for some reason or is this just normal for the Hills?
Comment by Proud Sucker Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 4:59 pm
Other wired animals I have won at local fairs. A yellow elephant. A purple alligator. An orange penguin……and once, long ago , a blue Dog.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 5:20 pm
Getting rid of traffic enforcement tools isn’t the answer, ethical decisions and enforcement are. I see so many people roll stop signs and stop lights it’s not funny. Or play “beat the light” and seen accidents caused. Cameras themselves don’t lie.
As for window tinting, all window tinting darker than the Federal standard, except for medical reasons, should be illegal. Driving in a nuclear-blast-proof tint job means you can’t see me during the day, far less at night. Illinois blew it when it sold out to the window tint companies years ago. cops can’t see in when they walk up to cars either.
Comment by revvedup Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 5:28 pm
Perrin -
They’re NOT enforcing the law, just collecting revenue. IF they were enforcing the law, the tickets would be run through the court system, so SOS could suspend / revoke licenses and insurance companies could raise rates.
Comment by Anyone Remember Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 6:02 pm
Kind of prefer the Cap Fax term of “Aldercritter.” Makes them sound kind of cuddly, but also a bit dangerous.
Comment by West Side the Best Side Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 6:15 pm
If the problem is giving reptiles as prizes (which I do see a problem with, similar to chicks and ducklings and rabbits), target that. The goldfish I won as a child lived long lives no worse off than fish bought at a pet store. Which may itself be a problem (are fish tanks humane?), but an entirely different one.
Also, if you have to say something like “This isn’t just a ‘goldfish bill’,” your press pop might be working against you…
Comment by Leslie K Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 7:03 pm
Has anyone ever seen one of those Chicago yellow lights that are 1 second or less? You eyes can barely register the change. I thought federal law requires three seconds.
Comment by Sure thing Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 8:36 pm
===Aldercritter===
Congresscritter. Aldercreature.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 9:03 pm
Aldercreature sounds scarier and not at all cuddly. Maybe that’s why they are more likely to be caught in the Fed’s traps out in the woods.
Comment by West Side the Best Side Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 10:09 pm