Racers in Illinois

[Bunkster]

Long ago, The National Motorists Association replaced the AAA as a true friend of the motoring public. (AAA, when they became nothing more than an insurance company, forgot about their original mission.)

The NMA site is loaded with good info regarding the scams listed above, plus speed trapping, "scameras", the huge business of ticket writing and more.

[novassdude]

I don't like the way they are doing it but I like the cell phone part. Any one who remebers Jon Christianson (SS/I racer from Mitchel South Dakota) knows what happens when idiots come into construction zones screwing with a cell phone. Any fine was not worth what happend there.

[Chris1529]

I totally agree with not speeding through construction zones, or getting distracted by cell phones etc. But I do not think it should become the American way for local or county or state police to pull you over and issue tickets because they think your license plate lights aren't bright enough. Althought it would probably get me in more trouble, I would respectfully tell them they need to take that up with the USDOT (or whatever agency) that determines which size light bulbs go into a license plate frame, or parking lights, or tail lights, etc.

[Dan Bennett]

I really hate the concept of photo revenue enhancement, but after logging a bunch of miles on the interstates I support anything that will keep a guy just trying to make a living from being flattened by someone doing something stupid.

However, Illinois is the WORST state for this to be used in. Their construction zones are a joke. If a project involves repairing seams along a ten mile stretch, every state I've seen sets up a zone for a couple of miles at a time where the work is progressing. It moves as the work does.

Not Illinois. It's a fifteen mile long work zone, where you'll see a pickup truck and three guys working after riding at 40 mph for 12 miles. Simply ridiculous and part of the mindset that allows idiots like those who gave Bret that ticket.

I'm pretty good at spending other peoples' money, but Brett, you really need to fight that citation. If the light was DOT/SAE approved there ain't no way in blazes a ticket would stand.

[bigshow2966]

I've seen that letter many times, I usually get it in a forwarded e-mail at least twice a year. I drive the expressways and tollways a lot and have never seen any cameras in any construction zones.

That being said, I do not speed in construction zones when workers are present. I have friends who work on road crews and know what they go through.

[Bret Kepner]

Originally Posted by Dan Bennett

Bret, you really need to fight that citation.

I appreciate the sentiment, Dan, but I was smart enough NOT to fight it. This isn't about rights or freedom or all the other blather. This is about revenue with no restrictions. Anybody who argues that point...especially with a trooper or a judge...is an idiot.

[Chris1529]

I would at least need them to show me the written law they were following to give such a rediculous citation.

[Rob Petrie E395]

Bret
We call it a fishing expedition around here as it happens all the time EVERYDAY. I cant tell you how many repair orders I write every year for one bulb or some other minor deal that the car owner was written a ticket for. We or another shop write a RO and replace the bulb and charge the customer a few bucks. All of our local counties dismiss the charge with a repair order. If you fix it yourself no dice. They (Cops) really dont give a damn about your light or any of that stuff its a excuse to legally pull you over. What they are looking for is the good stuff that pays well like DUI or no insurance. But when you are out late at night and have not been drinking, dont have drugs or guns and spot lights in the car and have insurance they are forced to write you for something to justify the stop. So they write you the BS ticket. The other new BS deal in our great state is all of the small towns adopting the state code. What this does is they can write tickets and keep all of the money for themselves with out giving any to the county or state if you pay the ticket at town hall. Nobody fights the tickets because if you lose it goes against you on your license. If you just pay it the state and your insurance co. never know about it because the small towns are not required to report to the state violations of thier local "city" laws. Another little piece of good info for anybody who gets a ticket in IL is this. Every county in IL has whats called "Court supervision" and all you have to do is ask for it. Some counties it even states on the back of the ticket how to do it. What it amounts to is they add some more money to the ticket, you pay it and they set a time period (usually 3 months) if you dont get another ticket in that county during the time period it all goes away and the Sec of states office ( where we go for our DL and tags) never knows about it and therefore your insurance company does not either. You can be on court supevison on every county in IL at the same time. But you can only get it once every 365 days in each county. I have never got a ticket. But know plenty who have. My son got a ticket for 93 in a 55 at 16 having only had his license for maybe 2 months. We had to goto court and asked the states attourney if he was eligable. She said sure but get ready he is going to get a chewing from the judge. I could not believe it how easy it was. He took his butt chewing paid 250 and stayed out of Marion Co for 3 months. The hardest part for him was no driving for 90 days imposed by ME! I will give anybody a hundred bucks if you can drive past a Centrallia IL cop with a light out and not get a ticket they are the worst for these BS fishing expedition tickets

[Rob Petrie E395]

By the way the tag light has to be bright enough to read the complete tag for I think 30 feet in the dark of night. Usually what happens is the clear lens over the tag light bulb fogs over much the same way the new plastic headlights fog over after a few years. This blocks some of the light and next thing you know there is a cop at your door telling you about it and giving you a little paper work. 5 min with some light rubbing compound on the lens will fix the problem and prevent another late night road side chat LOL. or you can spend 25 or more to get a new one. For anybody who is thinking about being a smart as and putting a super bright light on your tag. DONT then they write you for the tag light being too bright. (been there with a customers kids car after he got the too dim ticket)

[FrankChastain]

Originally Posted by Bobby DiDomenico

Also note there is NO cell phone use (hands free included) allowed in these work zones or school zones.

They need to make that a law full time, not just in work zones, in every state......