Unmarked vans nab work-zone speeders

CHICAGO, May 23 (UPI) -- Thousands of moving violations are being written in Chicago and the number is expected to increase with tighter enforcement of construction zone speed limits.

The latest weapon in the war against work-zone speeders is three leased unmarked white camera-equipped vans roaming Illinois highways, the Chicago Tribune reports. State troopers using the cameras and radar guns recorded hundreds of motorists violating the 45 mph speed limit in highway construction zones on Saturday.

The tickets, which arrive by certified mail, carry a $375 fine and a mandatory court appearance. The fine jumps to $1,000 for a second offense with a 3-month license suspension.

Many northern Illinois highways are under construction this spring -- including the Dan Ryan Expressway, usually the nation's busiest freeway, which is being rebuilt in a two-year, $600 million reconstruction project.

Police have written 5,000 speeding tickets since construction began eight weeks ago. The vans are expected to snare many more speeders, the newspaper said.

Illinois became the first state to use camera-equipped vans to enforce highway speed limits after 26 people died in work-zone accidents last year.