It’s quite rare when citizens are begging police officers to hand out more speeding tickets. But that’s exactly what happened this week at a citizen comment meeting in Chicago about how to fix up a seven-mile stretch of Lake Shore Drive, according to the Sun-Times.
Ctizens urged police to start dealing with an out of control speeding situation, the Sun-Times reports. Staggering numbers of drivers along the drive are speeding as they enter and exit the city. According to the Sun-Times, “During the week, 95 percent of drivers headed out of the city and 78 percent of the those traveling into the city are speeding — some by as much as 30 mph over the 40 mph speed limit.”
That has encouraged even residents of the area to ask for more enforcement of speed along Lake Shore Drive.
“Get those cops out there and give tons of tickets,’’ said resident Steve Kungis to the Sun-Times. “It’s a revenue pool right there, just waiting to happen.’’
The call for more enforcement along the road isn’t as simple as placing officers on the shoulder looking for speeders. The Sun-Times reports the topography of road doesn’t provide adequate space for cruisers to sit and clock oncoming traffic and state law prohibits speed cameras on the road.
Other commenters at the meeting included Fred Wackerle, who said he’d like to see the state law changed so cameras can be placed on the drive.
“It’s evident to me that there’s very little enforcement,’’ Wackerle said. “I rarely see squad cars on Lake Shore Drive pulling people over.’’
Other suggestions included the possibility of adding a second upper drive to the road that would have reduced speed limits aimed at a more scenic experience.
