Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Short Yellows?

  • The difference may be little more than a snap of the finger, but yellow lights on city traffic signals are shorter than ones in the suburbs. That gap is fast becoming fodder for a new and murky front in the battle over red-light cameras.

    Most Chicago yellow lights last three seconds, the bare minimum recommended under federal safety guidelines. In the suburbs, yellows generally stay on for four to four-and-a-half seconds.

    Cameras are touted as an effective tool to combat red-light running, but critics claim Chicago's shorter yellows undermine that premise by making it harder for motorists to stop in time and inflating the volume of tickets.
As long as they're using the established federal minimum, this story is a non-starter. Shortshanks and his camera-connected buddies are operating within the law. We've seen studies that say the extra half second to one second on a yellow light reduce crashes, but this was never about safety, at least not here in Chicago.

Here's a funny quote though:
  • But speed limit is just one factor in determining how long yellow lights should be, said Brian Steele, a spokesman for the Chicago Department of Transportation. [...]

    "What may have been successful in one community might not be successful in the city," Steele added.
Isn't that the rationale that city lawyers have been using for keeping the Chicago handgun ban in effect? What is it about Chicago that compels a complete departure from the established norms everywhere else in America? Restaurants across America serve foie gras and trans-fat-laden foods with nary a problem, but Chicagoans are too dumb to know what they're putting in their digestive tracts, so our City Council bans it. Crime goes down in 48 states where handgun ownership isn't subject to unconstitutional restrictions, but Shortshanks claims the streets will run red with blood if everyone can keep a gun in their home. Four-and-a-half second yellow lights are good enough for most other jurisdictions, but even a half-a-second increase in a Chicago yellow light means Chicago drivers turn into assholes?

The mind boggles.

Labels:

99 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

And maybe, just maybe, three seconds works okay at a standard east-west/north-south intersection.

But what about the THREE-street intersections? You know, the ones with the extra-wide, extra-long opportunities for crashes? Oh, yeah; three seconds is fine for those, too. Considering this is about generating revenue, not keeping people safe.

3/23/2010 12:14:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

All of these politicians are receiving money from Redspeed per campaign disclosure laws? Follow the money, it's right in front of us!!!

Peter Silvestri
James DeLeo
Skip Saviano
Anthony Calderone
Ronald Serpico
Bradley Stevens
...and many more.

The change must come.

3/23/2010 12:34:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

.......next they'll have YELLOW submarines!!!!!!!

3/23/2010 12:45:00 AM  
Anonymous West Side, Inside Do-Nothing said...

Look at some of the traffic control devices that have the countdown clock on them. I've seen several of them throughout the city that countdown noticeably quicker than they should; this phenomenon was easily proved by comparing the elapsed time of the device with a stopwatch in hand.

Certainly more useful than traffic control devices without a timer, an accelerated 20 seconds that in reality is only 17 or 18 seconds still has the propensity to cause accidents. Plus, it's just another bogus, wool-pulled-over-the-taxpayer's-eyes jagoff move by Daley. Check it out for yourself if you think about it next time you're waiting for one to change.

3/23/2010 12:47:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Not so fast. The speed limit is NEVER a factor in determining rational yellow light phase timing, according to the ITE. It's always done with 85th percentile speed.

I've known since the city installed its first round of cameras that the yellow-light timing was off. All of them are at the MUTCD federal minimum of 3.0s. The one at Foster/Nagle was 2.8s until I brought it up in a hearing (where I presented to the "hearing officer" for almost half an hour about how the violation was not in the spirit of the law). Less than 2 weeks later I measured it again: 3.0s exactly.

There are other factors involved in getting more violations to make more money. Take a look at the signals, their placement, and their visibility. Take a look at surrounding clutter, traffic patterns, and intersection design - it's no secret that these are installed at confusing intersections on purpose.

I know for a fact the intersection at washington and NW hwy in Park Ridge is a 4.5s light, and the speed limit is 25mph (ambient speed estimated between 30-40). This is a two-lane road that ends in a T-intersection. Kostner and North is an enormous intersection! Lots of these intersections are of extreme widths compared to others, and yet the timing is all the same.

They say upwards of 80% of red light running can be cured by addressing all the problems named above. The other 20% you guys can pull over and ticket at your discretion, because most of these are on purpose. I'd rather have that than some two-bit cameras.

In essence, they are making money by endangering the lives of motorists, and passing it off as safety. I don't know what's more despicable..the lies about safety, or the fact that nothing's corrected and they keep fleecing us.

3/23/2010 12:50:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Chicago is doing everything to get more money. Chicago is sending vans full of revenue dept officers to districts like 016 where citizens would rather pay the fine rather than forfeit a day of work and go to court. The city is hammering the working guy only because the city knows that he will PAY because of his sterling work ethic. How pathetic.

3/23/2010 12:54:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

And this surprised who.........?

3/23/2010 01:01:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Shortshanks. Short Yellows. A city that claims to be short on cash.

This doesn't surprise anyone.

These red light cameras have nothing to do with safety. They're all about revenue.

They're not in the ghetto, they're only located where the fishing (for cash) is good.

Remember, if you're going to mess with them (throw dog crap at them, cover them up with a cloth, duct tape over the protective glass, etc.), they run constantly-video sent via the internet and saved elsewhere.

The video is also retrievable for a couple of weeks preceding the alleged violation.

3/23/2010 01:05:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"What may have been successful in one community might not be successful in the city," Steele added.

"Isn't that the rationale that city lawyers have been using for keeping the Chicago handgun ban in effect?"

Why, yes -- yes it is, without ever mentioning that immigration-flood "multiculturalism" and the Second Amendment are not compatible.

"What is it about Chicago that compels a complete departure from the established norms everywhere else in America?"

The Twenty-Fifth District. You get Senor Pick Metal to install the other headlight, and maybe start using those turn signals, and we'll think about letting him have a gun.

Baby steps...

3/23/2010 01:09:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm not kidding, I saw my first STOP SIGN CAMERA. Granted, it was just west of Canfield on Bryn Mawr, Norwood Park maybe? But you can be sure they're coming to a stop sign near you. Now people will be getting rear-ended for counting one mississippi, two mississipi. That camera is about a block outside the city limits. Big brother is here, and it's only going to get worse.

3/23/2010 01:15:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

In the city drivers are now trained to step on the gas on the yellow light. then they argue with the police when they are stopped. they get vocal and bitter as if you are accusing them of child molestation. People want to do whatever they want and no one can tell them any different.

I only write a minimum of movers. I don't need the stress any more. At accidents I pile on the movers, sometimes writing both parties for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Of course the yellow should be longer but they would have to re-calibrate the entire city. What length of time do other large citied have on yellow lights?

3/23/2010 01:28:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

One would think that for safety issues and gridlock the city would not have the minimum of 3 seconds on the yellows and keep them longer like the burbs. But when you think of how much Daley wants the money you then understand that he could care less about the safety. Anyone that says the cameras are there for safety is lying through their teeth. Nearly got rear-ended several times stopping for the short yellows at the photo lights.

3/23/2010 01:54:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

it's a money grab just like everything else in this city--- daley has a new game out called spendopoly-- the citizen starts off their day with a fresh attitude and a pocket full of cash but by the time the sun goes down you are flat on your back with your pockets turned inside out--- fleeced at every turn and literally robbed by the sweaty little midget and his demon spawn...

3/23/2010 02:13:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Chicago is doing everything to get more money. Chicago is sending vans full of revenue dept officers to districts like 016 where citizens would rather pay the fine rather than forfeit a day of work and go to court. The city is hammering the working guy only because the city knows that he will PAY because of his sterling work ethic. How pathetic.

3/23/2010 12:54:00 AM"


ticket the non-working, link card carrying 'citizens' and debit their link cards.

3/23/2010 05:01:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Where the hell is all that money going?????

3/23/2010 05:38:00 AM  
Anonymous The Stuttering Prick said...

Youse guys got, er a point. Arra, I be tinking bout no more yellows, just red and green. Yeh, dat wood be good for dis great city.

3/23/2010 05:47:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ah YEW KNOW:

Short yellows,
Short Shanks,

Its a a SHEE CAAGO
thing.

3/23/2010 06:10:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Remember, if you're going to mess with them (throw dog crap at them, cover them up with a cloth, duct tape over the protective glass, etc.), they run constantly-video sent via the internet and saved elsewhere.
3/23/2010 01:05:00 AM


Its send via "satellite" wireless on an UNENCRYPTED OPEN NETWORK.
Shine a Bright Light into the lens,it will "retinally burn" the lens thereby masking any retrievable video,then by all means smear that bad boy with dog poop all day long.
Id post the IP of the network but Im sure it wont make it to post.

3/23/2010 06:13:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

We're special.

3/23/2010 07:06:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Short ? Did someone say Extra Short ? Masters Masters Masters

3/23/2010 07:18:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How did the lights fare the other morning at Irving and Western Avenues?

3/23/2010 07:37:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The traffic light timing has been 3 second yellow since at least the 60's. When I retired and moved downstate I found lights that were timed at 4 seconds with a 1/2 second delay on the next light turning green. It took a long time to get used to them. Returned for a retirement party and got nailed by the traffic cam at North & Western.

3/23/2010 07:54:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I wholeheartedly agree with
anonymous who posted abut the three
street intersections, especially
the most dangerous of all, Elston,
Fullerton and Damen. And some
intersections don't give a yellow
light at all. They just go from
green to red.
And SCC you are correct in noting
that Chicago is not being run
in the best interests of it's
citizens like other cities and towns but remember that the State
gave Chicago "home-rule" powers
that permits the mayor and the city
council to run the city to their best interests and not the citizens.
And since the aldermen are beholden
to the mayor only, no meaningful
legislation, key word meaningful,
gets passed that benefits the people. And for the life of me I will never understand how and why
the people tolerate these crooks
and return them to office each and
every four years. And when one goes
to jail, the mayor just sticks another general-purpose crook in the slot. And that Huberman guy,
he's a real work of art.

3/23/2010 08:26:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

All of these politicians are receiving money from Redspeed per campaign disclosure laws? Follow the money, it's right in front of us!!!

Peter Silvestri
James DeLeo
Skip Saviano
Anthony Calderone
Ronald Serpico
Bradley Stevens
...and many more.

The change must come.

I agree... Brad Stevens needs to change his last name so it ends in a vowel!
Fahgitaboutit!

3/23/2010 08:38:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm not kidding, I saw my first STOP SIGN CAMERA. Granted, it was just west of Canfield on Bryn Mawr, Norwood Park maybe? But you can be sure they're coming to a stop sign near you. Now people will be getting rear-ended for counting one mississippi, two mississipi. That camera is about a block outside the city limits. Big brother is here, and it's only going to get worse.

3/23/2010 01:15:00 AM


Regarding above post. Nothing personal, but next time you see that (alleged) stop SIGN camera notice... look more closely at it.
While in large letters it indicates Stop Sign Camera Controlled (or words to that effect)... LOOK ABOVE THAT TEXT!!!

In letters less than an inch tall (on purpose) it says, "soon to be installed." Nobody can see it.
It was intended to get your attention, that's all! There's NO camera there. Think about it. IF you were able to see that intentionally fine print above the large letters you probably stopped at the stop sign long enough. Otherwise it still served its purpose to make you THINK you could/would be photographed for not stopping. A psychological cost effective way to make you STOP and think. Pretty ingenious, I think. Go back a look for yourself.
P.S. I didn't see it the first two times I stopped at that same sign, but I stopped anyway figuring if they spent the $$ for a sign, the po-po (not Chicago) would be there to enforce it. Stay safe!
Ol' vet (r)

3/23/2010 08:54:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If we had a true legislative body, the alderman would debate this and propose an ordinance. But, this is Chicago and the alderman do as they are told.

3/23/2010 09:10:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Interesting that at Elston and Foster, about a year ago, they lengthened the duration of the yellow light. Could it be that they realized longer yellows could reduce crashes at an intersection?

3/23/2010 09:36:00 AM  
Anonymous hippy-dippy-1 said...

Anonymous said...
/../I only write a minimum of movers. I don't need the stress any more. At accidents I pile on the movers, sometimes writing both parties for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

3/23/2010 01:28:00 AM
***********************************
"The stress" of writing movers? Surely you jest.

3/23/2010 09:38:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

here in socialist chicago...the working man must $acrifice! all in the name of the king! (the three stooges)''hail,hail hailstone''!

3/23/2010 09:41:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

At 30 miles per hour you are going 44 feet per second. In three seconds that is 132 feet. If you only see the yellow light with two seconds left you must come a complete stop very quickly, that 18wheeler behind you with questionable brakes. Well GOOD LUCK

3/23/2010 09:46:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If we DUMP SHORTSHANKS in the next election.

Will the new Mayor, whoever that is...

...DUMP THE CAMERAS?

...DUMP JUGHEAD?

...DUMP 'LIMPIC CONTRACTS?

...( fill in the blank )

3/23/2010 10:29:00 AM  
Blogger The Lost said...

off subject sorry but....anybody confrim talk at 26th that Lt. from 19th has perjured himself during copper DUI hearing?

3/23/2010 10:50:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Its that smart Chicago voter who wants the nanny state, oh wait we got that.... thanks Illinois for sending your brightest and best to Washington and the world. Way to go. Yippee, free healthcare for everyone. Hand guns who needs em. Oh wait the IRS has been issued shot guns, the better to get your direct deposit account numbers from, oh wait, direct deposit of my tax check... thay already got that.

3/23/2010 11:07:00 AM  
Anonymous Pat said...

I wish someone had video tape of the traffic lights before the cameras went up. It would be real interesting to prove (because we know it did happen) that they shortened the yellows to drive up revenue. That or maybe a traffic signal worker has a memo to shorten them in the last few years....would be nice...Knowin Dick, he had it all planned out and shortened the lights one year before cameras, thinking no one would put 2 and 2 together....more scandal....

3/23/2010 11:40:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The lobbyist have control over the red-light cameras.

3/23/2010 11:42:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

When I was at a police conf, the red light guys were there. They admitted ( over a few pops ) that the yellow lights had been shortened. They were "encouraged" by some of the locals to make more money for the pols.

3/23/2010 11:53:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I knew it!!! They cheated me,the lousy cheats!!! We should get rid of the dreaded stop lite cameras as they are nothing but revenue generators and accident causers.

3/23/2010 11:56:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Totally OT....Classic example of why this job is a joke.....watching Debra Kirby park her car at the front door of headquarters and wait for "john" to run out and ask her if she "needs it gassed and washed." She responds, "Thanks Johnny..." unbelievable.

3/23/2010 12:02:00 PM  
Blogger Sir Donkey, esq said...

sir, the light was yellow. (I just hope they don't have SCMADS)

3/23/2010 12:09:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Of course the yellow should be longer but they would have to re-calibrate the entire city. What length of time do other large citied have on yellow lights?

3/23/2010 01:28:00 AM

wtf are you talking about? they already had to re-cal the entire city then when they shortened the yellow lights after the cameras were installed. believe me, they can put them back to how they were. and how can you write tickets for accidents if you didn't witness anything?

3/23/2010 12:25:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The shorter yellow lights cause more accidents! public safety my ass.. $$$$$$$$$$

3/23/2010 12:45:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Here is a link to a story and study about how Chicago Police officers can no longer afford to buy a house in the city.
We need to get rid of residency!!
This needs to be at the TOP of the FOP's to do list. And now they even have a free independent studies/source to back them up in court or lobbying.

http://www.chicagobreakingbusiness.com/2010/03/chicago-homeownership-out-of-reach-for-many-with-jobs.html

3/23/2010 01:06:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

OT: Off duty PO jumped in 008 or 009. Shots fired at offenders but no hits so far.

3/23/2010 01:07:00 PM  
Anonymous A2 said...

Off Topic. Line of duty death P.O.'s brother is murdered. 1 Dick assigned. All others told to go home won't pay O.T. These motherfucker's really got your back! This should be a priority case,instead it's just thrown on the pile.

3/23/2010 01:15:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I broke this story about seven months ago, the area streets and sanitation guys had the task of retiming all the yellow lights in the different wards of the city.


I guarantee if you went to some of the locations you wouldn't get a legit 3 seconds, it's always the same story once the city gets caught they blame it on equipment malfunctions, streets and sanitation supervisor takes a hit for not knowing in advance, and everything goes away

3/23/2010 01:18:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Okay, lots of people bitching here, but how many of you are registered to vote? And how many of you actually take the 10 minutes to vote?

Daley don't give a shit what cops think because the majority of this cities police department isn't even registered to vote.

Start walking the walk people. Your help is desperately needed.

3/23/2010 01:33:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If they cared about the publics safety all the lights would have the countdown clock. Even if there was no camera the countdown clock alone would make the intersections much safer. Everytime I approach an intersection with a stale green light everyone is jockey for position trying to scramble across the intersection stoping and going. It's totally unsafe just to get revenue.

3/23/2010 01:51:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

I'm not kidding, I saw my first STOP SIGN CAMERA. Granted, it was just west of Canfield on Bryn Mawr, Norwood Park maybe? But you can be sure they're coming to a stop sign near you. Now people will be getting rear-ended for counting one mississippi, two mississipi. That camera is about a block outside the city limits. Big brother is here, and it's only going to get worse.

3/23/2010 01:15:00 AM

I will take a look in the next few days to clarify since I live in the neighborhood. HOWEVER, I did see "them" installing cabling and other such infrastructure at Higgins and Canfield a couple months ago. I thought for sure that there'd be a camera there, but one hasn't popped up yet.

3/23/2010 02:12:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

...and not a moment of thought is given to the poor pedestrian -- elderly, disabled, with packages, or with a bunch of kids -- who gets caught in the middle of the street in front of an oncoming wall of accelerating cars driven by people who believe in their hearts that a green light is a license to kill anything in the roadway...

3/23/2010 02:24:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Any way this City can steal money out of peoples pockets they will do it!

Town of thieves and it start with Mayor Daley and the 50 Alderman thieves!

3/23/2010 03:12:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Off topic: What the fuck is an "Obama phone"? Dude was complaining that another piece of shit tried to take his "Obama phone".

Free phone for bustouts? Tell me no.......

3/23/2010 03:43:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

They should just add a color.

green - go

yellow - use caution but still go

orange - go if you are already in the intersection but still at fault if someone turns in front of you because you had enough time to stop.

red-stop

There should also be a lottery in every intersection once a day. The light will go from green to blue for 1 second. If you are in the intersection the city takes a picture of you and sends you $75 voucher for any violation including parking tickets. If you wish you can use the voucher towards a city sticker.

3/23/2010 04:10:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

== If it wasn't about the graft and the money...

The city would have been working on making traffic safer by a computer controlled citywide system to move traffic more efficiently.

But that would mean less red light tickets.

Less gasoline bought, taxes and pollution.

but that would make tooooo much sense,

3/23/2010 04:34:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

off subject sorry but....anybody confrim talk at 26th that Lt. from 19th has perjured himself during copper DUI hearing?

3/23/2010 10:50:00 AM

VERY TRUE, but of course the coppers and sgt are liars, not the LT who gave a different story on the stand than he did at IAD..........

3/23/2010 04:40:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Off topic: What the fuck is an "Obama phone"? Dude was complaining that another piece of shit tried to take his "Obama phone".

Free phone for bustouts? Tell me no.......

3/23/2010 03:43:00 PM

YES! Along with the LINK card and SNAP Card your neighborhood welfare recipient can now qualify for a FREE CELL PHONE!

and now free health care! Well, not exactly free, we pay, as good as free for the democrats.

Is this a great country or what? Doesn't "free country" mean you don't have to pay for anything?

3/23/2010 04:43:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Off topic: What the fuck is an "Obama phone"? Dude was complaining that another piece of shit tried to take his "Obama phone".

Free phone for bustouts? Tell me no.......

3/23/2010 03:43:00 PM

It's SAD BUT TRUE!
It's just another government entitlement program that takes money from the tax paying people that work and give it to the people that don't work. They get free phones and minuets if they are on SSI, or any other type goverment aid. There are TV and radio commercials for it. It started before Obama. It's another free handout program in Illinois for the people that choose not to work. They go under the guise of, "it's to help you look for a job." When we all know the drug dealers and bust outs that choose to never work get them. And people wonder why Illinois is so fucked up.

3/23/2010 05:08:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Free phone for bustouts? Tell me no.......

3/23/2010 03:43:00 PM"


sorry, no can do......

3/23/2010 05:30:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

OT: I was waiting in line to get into joes bar on weed street the other day. yes waiting in line because im one of those officers who waits in line with the rest of the pee ons to get into a club. Well while waiting i observed some off duty officers flashing their badges to get in front of the line. Well after they got in i overheard one of the bouncers tell another bouncer how he wishes one of these cops would "mess up" inside so he could call it in. Be very cautious using your badge to get any kind of benifit these days those bouncers at clubs are nothing but police wannabes and will fuck you anyway they can. It's safer to pay the cover charge and wait in line than to have them know you are the police.

3/23/2010 05:33:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"'The stress' of writing movers? Surely you jest.

3/23/2010 09:38:00 AM"



she said from the safety of her 35th st. desk.

3/23/2010 05:35:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anyone with an iPhone should get the FREE trapster.com app. It warned me about some new red lights on my daily drive before the signage went up.

3/23/2010 05:46:00 PM  
Anonymous More manpower issues..make this a thread said...

shooting at 79/st louis today at about 1700hrs. two gang guys get to the scene first.. mass chaos breaks out.. two people shot, multiple calls to 911 where one of these as*holes states to 911 if you bring the police over here we dont care were gonna kill them too.. fight of about 50 people breaks out gang guys are calling for help oemc is asking for cars to go out to help them and silence.... I counted it out. 9 minutes for a car to finally get out there. the dispatcher is actually having to call people to go instead of just naturally going. oemc calls... oemc:857... 857(female voice): can you go to 79/st louis for the assist? 857;umm ok squad but we are coming from the station. first car to come up on the air is 830 who was stuck down at the hospital at 69/california.. meanwhile, gang guys are still asking for help.. then the wagon finally chirps up.. oh, 872, sure were clear we can start heading there.... Now i really hope its just not because 008 thrid watch is filled with dogs... I already know that there really are not many hard chargers on that watch.. I also know that there is zero manpower in 008 and that is also a factor along with how damn busy 008 is. I cant belive what I heard today.. 9 minutes. Do you have any idea how long 9 minutes is when you need help.. my god.. get us some more coppers!!!! And if its just the guys on the watch then shame on you for not responding to help another policeman.

3/23/2010 05:46:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Ads are on TV, for people who received Govt. asst...They get a used cellphone with 50minutes a month. They can also purchase more minutes only at certain stores.. In the Hood they are calling them Obama phones..

3/23/2010 05:47:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3.0 sec. Yellow lights is just Daley fuckery in the 21st century to drive up revenue. As previously noted, at the expense of public safety.

As a citizen, my first heads-up on enhanced vehicle revenue fuckery at the hands of Chicago politicians was graduating in Chicago Parking Fuckery Physics.

That was knowing that even though the tan stickers (circa 1999) on the parking meters said, "Parking from 6am to 6pm (or in some cases 9pm) you had better check a half a block up both ends of the street for another sign saying, "No Parking from 9am to 2pm on Friday the 13th on a Full Moon when traveling with your first born". Signs which were often hidden behind a tree branch or hanging flower pot.

The really interesting thing was on almost every meter sticker, the evening time after which feeding the meter was no longer necessary was rubbed out on the sticker. Who would do that? Not the citizens. The city would do it for mo $$$ at the expense of those who didn't know the fuckery better.

Those circa 1999 stickers said "unless otherwise posted" in small print. Years later, you started to see a gold reflective sticker that warned of other sinage affecting the legal time limits.

Democrats have been screwing people in this city for years.

They get re-elected by virtue of the number of votes they get from Kool-aide drinking city employees, vendors giving kick-backs (and there families) illegal aliens (that for the most part pay no fines or taxes) and gang bangers giving a courteousy vote to the citys biggest criminals, Daley and the democrats.

Buck Naked
(not a cop)

3/23/2010 05:59:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It all makes sense, Daley took the little yellow bus to school, so he makes the little yellow lights

3/23/2010 06:34:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

Off topic: What the fuck is an "Obama phone"? Dude was complaining that another piece of shit tried to take his "Obama phone". Free phone for bustouts? Tell me no......

3/23/2010 03:43:00 PM

Old news.....they started these last year. Low income people get a free "emergency" cell phone with 70mins a month on it.

3/23/2010 06:51:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

short shanks short yellows, hmmmmmmm

3/23/2010 07:02:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If it's proven the city is directly and purposefully manipulating the timing,they need to be charged with Reckless Conduct. Minimally anyone involved in a rear end collision or issued a mover should become part of a Class Action Lawsuit. This thing stinks to high heaven, once again, Al Capone is rolling in his grave,he'd have had a huge piece of the pie.

3/23/2010 07:15:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

PSSST... CPD TO TAKE OVER EXPRESSWAYS????????????????????????

3/23/2010 07:20:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I blame everything on the future. Wasn't everything supposed to change in 1984? We're still driving cars! Where's our spaceships?! The tubes to transport us to work?!

Daley and the short yellow lights?! He's just mad the future didn't turn out how we excepted it.

3/23/2010 08:05:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

OT: I responded to a "Disturbance with a Mental" today at one of the hotels in the district. I was 99, but another 99 unit and a Sgt. answered up as well. Upon arrival, CFD was already in the hotel room and my backup was outside. I asked what exactly we had and the f'ing Sgt. said, "I don't know. It's your job." Subject, of course, became combative & CFD & I "escorted" her to the ambulance for transport. Thanks a lot you a$$hole Sgt. & useless KMA PO. I know I don't have a ton of time on the job, but WTF! Back each other up or RETIRE already!! Thanks SCC for the rant!!!

3/23/2010 08:21:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Short yellow signal lights are an obvious safety concern. How does the city continue to get away with this? Simple, citizens are dumbed
down, don't bother to vote and continue in the pursuit of nonsense. How much longer do we put up w/ this corrupt administration? City utilities have been sold out from under us for pennies on the dollar. There are all kinds of revenue generating schemes but the city is still crying broke. I can't wait to retire and move someplace where i'm not looking at thug rap wannabes and petty drug dealers who seem to operate here with impunity. Sorry for ranting.

3/23/2010 08:24:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I remember approaching a street on the west side a few years back, I swear that yellow must have lasted for about 10 seconds.

Probably so cops in hot pursuit would have plenty of time to make it through after the vehicle they were chasing.

3/23/2010 08:24:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

Off topic: What the fuck is an "Obama phone"? Dude was complaining that another piece of shit tried to take his "Obama phone".

Free phone for bustouts? Tell me no.......

3/23/2010 03:43:00 PM



www.safelinkwireless.com

Free sail fawns. Oh yes.

3/23/2010 08:56:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/03/suit-men-brutally-beaten-by-chicago-cops.html

This story has no merit. Sounds like someone is trying to make money. Drunk and disorderly I bet. It just doesnt make sense.... Unprovoked attack yea ok.

3/23/2010 09:06:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
I'm not kidding, I saw my first STOP SIGN CAMERA. Granted, it was just west of Canfield on Bryn Mawr, Norwood Park maybe? But you can be sure they're coming to a stop sign near you. Now people will be getting rear-ended for counting one mississippi, two mississipi. That camera is about a block outside the city limits. Big brother is here, and it's only going to get worse.

3/23/2010 01:15:00 AM


Regarding above post. Nothing personal, but next time you see that (alleged) stop SIGN camera notice... look more closely at it.
While in large letters it indicates Stop Sign Camera Controlled (or words to that effect)... LOOK ABOVE THAT TEXT!!!

In letters less than an inch tall (on purpose) it says, "soon to be installed." Nobody can see it.
It was intended to get your attention, that's all! There's NO camera there. Think about it. IF you were able to see that intentionally fine print above the large letters you probably stopped at the stop sign long enough. Otherwise it still served its purpose to make you THINK you could/would be photographed for not stopping. A psychological cost effective way to make you STOP and think. Pretty ingenious, I think. Go back a look for yourself.
P.S. I didn't see it the first two times I stopped at that same sign, but I stopped anyway figuring if they spent the $$ for a sign, the po-po (not Chicago) would be there to enforce it. Stay safe!
Ol' vet (r)

3/23/2010 08:54:00 AM
------------

That is f**ng BRILLIANT on their part. It was dark when I saw it, but yes, it made me stop. Why doesn't shortypants do that? I thought I did see a contraption there though. Thanks for the nice heads-up. I usually go thru half of those, especially at night, after a very slow roll. Finally, a nice response to something on this blog.

Thanks 'ol vet! I'm going to check it on my walk tomorrow:)

--anudder ol' vet

3/23/2010 09:07:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Off topic: What the fuck is an "Obama phone"? Dude was complaining that another piece of shit tried to take his "Obama phone".

Free phone for bustouts? Tell me no.......

3/23/2010 03:43:00 PM

Can't. Free phones for low-income. And not just limited to emergency calls. Where've you been lately?

3/23/2010 09:15:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sir Donkey, love the Blues Brothers reference but it's SCMODS...
State
County
Municipal
Offender
Data
System

Orange whip?

3/23/2010 09:15:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

There is only one way to resolve this ripoff and safety hazzard.

There must be a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of motorist and pedestrian safety. There has to be ample cases of people being injured or killed due to these cameras.

Register to VOTE and VOTE!

DUMP DALEY!!!

3/23/2010 09:48:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

From the comments section on an article running in todays Tribune, you know, the paper that Kass works for, you know, the guy who always has your back.....

felonswithbadges on March 23, 2010 9:05 PM
Red light cameras, 11% tax, 25-50$ to park, police writing false d.u.i's, false traffic tickes,beating up innocent tax paying citizens, a school system that passes kids just for showing up,and a city that just plane dosen't give a crap!!!!!No matter what these two guy might of said or did, thats the very best we have protecting us!!! They should lose their jobs,their pension,and have to do jail time like anyone of us would have to!!!! "come to chicago where 6'4 250 lbs. off duty police officers can brutally smash 5'0 tall girl bartenders in the face and walk away with a slap on the hand"

3/23/2010 09:48:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Those cameras were paid for with a good chunk of the city's Homeland Security awards. Why do you think the DOC had been on the news so much a few weeks back DOC cmdr has to make sure he is producing, doesn't want to get in trouble with DHS like cook county.

3/23/2010 09:55:00 PM  
Anonymous Ellwood Blues said...

Sir Donkey....One small correction .....

It's

s c m O d s

State County Municipal OFFENDER Data System....

3/23/2010 10:00:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ok. F*€k it, I quit. I am now looking for street gang to join.
I will quit my job, get my link card amd get my woman to work the streets. I will quit paying my house payment and all other bills and move into the bank owned house down the street. I will tell my regular doctor to take a hike and use the er as my primary care physician. I am not going to renew my drivers license and will start purchasing guns from some guy in the hood. I'll park wherever I want to and never pay the tickets. I don't like rap music, but I'm willing to learn.
I think I've figured our how to survive in this city. I had it all wrong before. I get it now. Screw being a productive member of society, I'm supposed to just take what the the government gives me.

3/23/2010 10:28:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Why doesn't Daley and Burke enter the real world and give up his valet body guards? That would save the taxpaye$ $$$$$. Put the officers back into the districts. Daley wants everyone to "give up and scrifice" while he remains king of his corrupt monarchy.

3/23/2010 09:42:00 AM

You forgot the (who be her) treasurer with 7 all d-3 paid like burkes,+ 2 new crown vics every 6 months but why?

3/23/2010 10:47:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/23/2010 05:45:00 PM

We are short in 008,and we are sent all over the district for "baby mama drama" bullshit calls you should of just called a 10-1 and then it would be broadcast over citywide we are very short in 008 like every district citywide! Why not stop all the bullshit msf-gang teams-and tru put all the hard chargers back into districts why not jags at the top?

3/23/2010 10:52:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I took Drivers Ed back in 1973 and had the classroom taught by a CPD Traffic Division officer for 2 classes. As I remember he told us the definition of blowing a red light was if your car was going the posted speed, the front wheels at the last line of the far crosswalk as the light turned yellow. If your front wheels didn’t make it to the far crosswalk 1st line before the light went red, you blew the light. He said the City calibrated each intersection for such. (speed and distance)

In those days you could do things that way. Today the signals are programmed in a network to keep traffic flowing from one light to the next. I don’t care except what the traffic cop said in 1973. So the 3 second rule is irrelevant. It depends on speed and the distance of the intersection. Each intersection is different.

Long before the red light cams. I don’t care what you did, you couldn’t make the yellow on Stoney Island at 79th and South Chicago if you had a z-06 Corvette.

3/23/2010 10:56:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
I took Drivers Ed back in 1973 and had the classroom taught by a CPD Traffic Division officer for 2 classes. As I remember he told us the definition of blowing a red light was if your car was going the posted speed, the front wheels at the last line of the far crosswalk as the light turned yellow. If your front wheels didn’t make it to the far crosswalk 1st line before the light went red, you blew the light. He said the City calibrated each intersection for such. (speed and distance)

In those days you could do things that way. Today the signals are programmed in a network to keep traffic flowing from one light to the next. I don’t care except what the traffic cop said in 1973. So the 3 second rule is irrelevant. It depends on speed and the distance of the intersection. Each intersection is different.

Long before the red light cams. I don’t care what you did, you couldn’t make the yellow on Stoney Island at 79th and South Chicago if you had a z-06 Corvette.

3/23/2010 10:56:00 PM



It sure isn't that way any more. Drivers feel entitled to treat the yellow just like a green if they are even a little in the intersection when it turns red. They argue that they had the yellow no matter that it was red for most of their trip through the intersection.

3/23/2010 11:24:00 PM  
Anonymous Calling for Killing Cops on breaking news website said...

scc, just so you know its getting pretty out of control on the chicago breaking news website. The comments section in the story about two white guys getting beat up by two cops in arturos resturant has some posts that were actually approved by the blog owner that mention killing cops to put them in thier place!! Just thought it would be nice to air this out to everyone out there what people are saying about cpd..actually calling to kill cops to stop "harrasment"... and of course.. lizzie wong and the loevy and loevy crew are behind this lawsuit...go figure.

3/23/2010 11:51:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ok. F*€k it, I quit. I am now looking for street gang to join.
I will quit my job, get my link card amd get my woman to work the streets. I will quit paying my house payment and all other bills and move into the bank owned house down the street. I will tell my regular doctor to take a hike and use the er as my primary care physician. I am not going to renew my drivers license and will start purchasing guns from some guy in the hood. I'll park wherever I want to and never pay the tickets. I don't like rap music, but I'm willing to learn.
I think I've figured our how to survive in this city. I had it all wrong before. I get it now. Screw being a productive member of society, I'm supposed to just take what the the government gives me.

HILARIOUS! But the one thing I agree upon is: Quit paying your mortgage and move into the bank owned house. Say what you will, but this is what I did in order to provide for my family. I am saving 3K a month!

3/24/2010 04:04:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Daley & all of "cabal of evil men" have lost their credibility. They spread the "truth" as dictated by little "chuckie" ! enuff said...........

3/24/2010 06:04:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

We are short in 008,and we are sent all over the district for "baby mama drama" bullshit calls you should of just called a 10-1 and then it would be broadcast over citywide we are very short in 008 like every district citywide! Why not stop all the bullshit msf-gang teams-and tru put all the hard chargers back into districts why not jags at the top?

3/23/2010 10:52:00 PM



Nothing to see here,move alone.
Invest in SEVERAL boxes of Yellow Tape as its gonna be a fun summer.
008 is TOO SHORT. DANGEROUSLY SHORT. It would take an 'act of God' (or a competant DC) to get adequate police resources for the 008. While youse guys are hard working GENTLEMEN and LADIES,it is beyond belief that they continue to reduce the workforce and expect statistical perfection from you. This is called WORK OVER LOAD. How you might ask do you AVOID work over load,SLOW DOWN!. Bringing in MSF and the TRU unit is a band-aid on a hemorrhage. What happens when those units are pulled to another district? you are right back at square one with backlogs up the ass and bodies in the streets. So where is the WIN -WIN in that?

Another "band-aid" is that security detail in Marquette Park. While it gives the APPEARANCE of the police it is not the police. The public(or at least the ones that work to support the welfare leaches) deserve protection not excuses.The Officers deserve ADEQUATE backup not "gee we are in a RAP or a backlog" and this my friend will NEVER EVER CHANGE under the administration of Daley and Weiss.So do like I do, one job at a time,lunch when I can,and on reports in the station.

Screw this city.

3/24/2010 12:01:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

amen

3/24/2010 01:42:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Remember it's not about revenue it's about safety!

3/24/2010 06:15:00 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

The original video posted in December of the 2.5 second yellows can be found on youtube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njbG6Yeg3s0

I can't explain the discrepancy between this vid and the Tribune and Fox tests, but it does appear all Chicago yellows are now exactly 3 seconds.

I'm not a cop or anything, just a Red Light Cam Activist who likes to follow this blog. Thanks for covering Red Light Cams.

3/24/2010 07:38:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

HILARIOUS! But the one thing I agree upon is: Quit paying your mortgage and move into the bank owned house. Say what you will, but this is what I did in order to provide for my family. I am saving 3K a month!

3/24/2010 04:04:00 AM

You are right. Was just on news saying Bank of America will give you a 30% reduction in your mortgage if you missed 2 payments and your home is worth 20% less than what you owe. DAMN IT....I missed out!

3/24/2010 11:39:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"...and not a moment of thought is given to the poor pedestrian -- elderly, disabled, with packages, or with a bunch of kids -- who gets caught in the middle of the street in front of an oncoming wall of accelerating cars driven by people who believe in their hearts that a green light is a license to kill anything in the roadway..."

I'm sorry. What did you say?

3/25/2010 01:39:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"YES! Along with the LINK card and SNAP Card your neighborhood welfare recipient can now qualify for a FREE CELL PHONE!"

That's NOT TRUE! It's NOT FREE! (You & I are paying for it!)

3/25/2010 01:39:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"It sure isn't that way any more. Drivers feel entitled to treat the yellow just like a green if they are even a little in the intersection when it turns red. They argue that they had the yellow no matter that it was red for most of their trip through the intersection."

Isn't there a city ordinance prohibiting entering the intersection on a yellow light? Once the driver says "It was yellow", you could write him...assuming you're still trying to make revenue for the city at this point in CPD history.

Remember, if the light is time for 30, it's also timed for 60!

3/25/2010 01:39:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"...and not a moment of thought is given to the poor pedestrian -- elderly, disabled, with packages, or with a bunch of kids -- who gets caught in the middle of the street in front of an oncoming wall of accelerating cars driven by people who believe in their hearts that a green light is a license to kill anything in the roadway..."

I'm sorry. What did you say?

3/25/2010 01:39:00 AM

Yeah, I know. While the three-second yellow can be lethal to normal people who actually cross in crosswalks and travel in a straight line, the entire complex, rectilinear system of lights, stripes, and so forth designed by Western man means nothing to a large proportion of the population,which simply wanders diagonally across busy arterial streets in large groups as the mood strikes them -- their backs to traffic, laughing, talking s**t, using cell phones, and eating and dropping the McDonald's litter all over as they go. For them, everyone hits the brakes -- yet another daily example of the forced inversion of natural selection.

3/25/2010 07:00:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

>>>Anonymous said...
Anonymous said...
Off topic: What the fuck is an "Obama phone"? Dude was complaining that another piece of shit tried to take his "Obama phone".

Free phone for bustouts? Tell me no.......

3/23/2010 03:43:00 PM

Can't. Free phones for low-income. And not just limited to emergency calls. Where've you been lately?

3/23/2010 09:15:00 PM<<<


Free phones for bustouts...YES!

Not just for 9-1-1 anymore!

See the commercials on TV, "I can call my family anytime I want." Also my dope dealer, my babies daddies (all of them), my Parole Officer, IPRA and favorite phone sex line.

All at taxpayer expense.

3/26/2010 11:49:00 AM  

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