The Traffic camera thing in Illinois is Bogus...kinda

Sorry for the non-Cubs related post, but I had to get this off my chest, and posting here updates my facebook profile and gives me a public link I send to all the #$%^#$% that continue to spam my inbox.

Ok people, I'm sick of getting this email. STOP! It's not true. At least not entirely. For details see here -
http://www.snopes.com/politics/traffic/illinois.asp
Ok, yes snopes marks it as true, but we're gonna break this down:

Illinois will begin using photo radar in freeway work zones in July. One mile per hour over the speed limit and the machine will get you a nice $375.00 ticket in the mail. Beginning July 1st, the State of Illinois will begin using the speed cameras in areas designated as "Work Zones" on major freeways.

This is mostly crap because Illinois has been using these vans for 4 years already. It isn't THIS July, it's July 2005.

Anyone caught by these devices will be mailed a $375.00 ticket for the FIRST offense.
The SECOND offense will cost $1000.00 and comes with a 90-Day suspension.

This part is true. Steep.

Drivers will also receive demerit points against their license, which allow insurance companies to raise Insurance rates.
Total Horse crap. Illinois does NOT and never has used "Demerit points" on driver's licenses. Some states do, but not all. So the scenes in Fifth Element do have some basis - just not here.

This is the harshest penalty structure ever set for a governmental unit involving PHOTO speed enforcement. No idea, but sure why not?

The State already has two camera vans on line issuing tickets 24/7 in work zones with speed limits lowered to 45 MPH. Total crap, in that they have 5, not 2.

For more info: http://www.dot.state.il.us/press/r033005.html
This link results in a "page not found" or similar error, and here's why - look at the file name - r033005.html

Let me write that another way for you - 03/30/05. Yes. this was a press release in 2005. The most recent press release reiterates the true portions of this email -
http://www.dot.state.il.us/press/r062409.html

By the way - they have _5_ vans for the entire state of Illinois. Chicago has more than 5 expressways. You are in no more danger on July 1 of getting a ticket than you are today.

Long story short - do you HAVE to slow down in construction zones? Not because of these "NEW" laws. Should you? Absolutely.

So stop sending this to me!!!!