Record #: O2017-3352   
Type: Ordinance Status: Failed to Pass
Intro date: 4/19/2017 Current Controlling Legislative Body: Committee on Finance
Final action:
Title: Amendment of Municipal Code Section 9-102-010 to allow use of photographic traffic control signal monitoring device for enforcement of laws prohibiting use of mobile telephones while driving
Sponsors: Burke, Edward M., Beale, Anthony
Topic: MUNICIPAL CODE AMENDMENTS - Title 9 - Vehicles, Traffic & Rail Transportation - Ch. 102 Automated Red Light Camera Program
Attachments: 1. O2017-3352.pdf
Related files: R2019-362

ORDINANCE

 

 

WHEREAS, the City of Chicago is a home rule unit of government pursuant to the 1970 Illinois Constitution, Article VII, Section 6(a); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to its home rule power, the City of Chicago may exercise any power and perform any function relating to its government and affairs including the power to regulate for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and

WHEREAS, distracted driving, specifically the use of mobile devices while driving, is a proven and lethal threat to public safety; and

WHEREAS, the Highway Traffic Safety Administration acknowledges that distracted driving is an epidemic; and

WHEREAS, affected are some of our youngest drivers, with teen drivers widely admitting to texting and driving, even while aware of the risks, and this behavior is now the leading cause of death for teenage drivers; and

WHEREAS, also affected are pedestrians, with the Governors Highway Safety Association projecting an 11% increase in pedestrians killed in 2016 compared to 2015 due to mobile device distractions; and

WHEREAS, City law enforcement officials should be able to draw upon available technology to aid in their efforts to curb this danger; and

WHEREAS, the City has already deployed an automated traffic law enforcement system to curb red light and speeding infractions; and

WHEREAS, distracted driving falls in line with the behavior that the efficacy of automated traffic law enforcement systems seek to curb; NOW THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:

SECTION 1. The above recitals are expressly incorporated herein and made part hereof as though fully set forth herein.

SECTION 2. Chapter 9-102 of the Municipal Code of Chicago is hereby amended by adding underscored language as follows:

9-102-010 Purpose - Establishment of automated traffic law enforcement system.

/Omitted text is unaffected by this ordinance.]

(b) The system shall utilize a traffic control signal monitoring device which records, through photographic means, the vehicle and the vehicle registration plate of a vehicle operated in violation of Section 9-8-020(c) or Section 9-76-230. The photographic record shall also display the time, date and location of the violation.

 

 

[Omitted text is unaffected by this ordinance.]

 

 

 

9-102-020 Automated traffic law enforcement system violation.

(a) The registered owner of record of a vehicle is liable for a violation of this section and the fine set forth in Section 9-100-020 when the vehicle is used in violation of Section 9-8-020(c) or 9-76-230 and a recorded image of the violation is recorded by an automated traffic law enforcement system.

[Omitted text is unaffected by this ordinance.]

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the liability of an operator of a vehicle for any violation of Section 9-8-020(c) or Section 9-76-230.

 

 

 

[Omitted text is unaffected by this ordinance]

Alderman, 9th Ward

 

 

 

SECTION 3. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect sixty (60) days after its passage and approval