Rep. Greenwood: Expansion of License Plate Reading Cameras on Highways Will Save Lives

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. – Legislation that will give police and prosecutors more tools to catch criminals that are shooting at other vehicles on Illinois highways and roads was introduced in the Illinois House by Rep. LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, Majority Conference Chairperson, Assistant Majority Leader.

There were 185 expressway shootings in Chicago in 2021 and many others across the state. On December 23, a 39-year-old man was shot and killed on Interstate 64 in East St. Louis. Preliminary findings indicate the shots were fired from an unknown vehicle traveling on Interstate 64 westbound near Mile Marker 3.

“Highway shootings in the Metro East and across Illinois have become an urgent problem,” Greenwood said. “By expanding the use of license plate reading cameras, our state can protect motorists and catch criminals that are currently evading law enforcement because of inadequate technology on our roadways. This is proven technology across the country.”

In 2020, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the Tamara Clayton Expressway Act. The legislation gave $12 million to install high-definition cameras with license plate reading equipment. The State Police is currently installing hundreds of cameras on Cook County expressways.

The legislation, House Bill 4414, would add 15 counties to the state’s expressway camera program and would include the Illinois Tollway system. It would allow state transportation officials to include highway camera improvements as part of requests for proposals. The Illinois counties that would be added to the program are: Boone, Bureau, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Henry, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair, Will and Winnebago.

This would result in expressway cameras on roads such as I-64, I-70, I-270 and I-255 in the Metro East and in northern Illinois, it would include I-55, I-88, I-94, I-355, I-294, 1-80; and the I-290 corridors.

The legislation has the support of the St. Clair County Sheriff and East. St. Louis Police Chief.

“This excellent legislation – along with state funding – will give Metro East law enforcement teams the ability to investigate and apprehend suspects that are traveling across the river from St. Louis,” said Sheriff Rick Watson. “We have identified locations for dozens of cameras in the Metro East area and we hope with the passage of the bill, the state can fund these camera sites.”

East St. Louis Chief Kendall Perry said there are dead spots on Metro East roads with no cameras and this is known to criminals. “This legislation is critical because criminals know that many times there are not enough eyes on them in the Metro East area.”

The bill’s cosponsors include Representatives Dave Vella, D-Rockford; Natalie Manley, D-Joliet; Larry Walsh, D-Elwood; Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan; and Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City. Senator Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon, introduced a companion bill in the State Senate, which is Senate Bill 3875. Both bills will be considered during the spring session of the Illinois General Assembly.