All know how cities and villages use red light cameras to fill their coffers.
Now comes Bridgeview with another scheme to separate citizens from money.
Here is what Laina Vandyke, who describes herself as a “Palos Park resident and now Metra criminal” wants publicized:
“I’m writing with the intention that the Patch will publish this as an article to make people aware of what is happening in the Southwest suburbs, particular along the Metra line.
“On a Friday night at the Palos Park Metra stop, about 30 people got off the train at around 5:25 PM.
“As soon as the train cleared the station, the work week weary commuters began to walk across the platform toward the parking lot.
“A man started shouting.
“The commuters stopped and turned to see a Palos Park policeman, looking very heated.
“We all stopped and waited as he corralled us like cattle.
“Then, he pulled four people out of the crowd, including me, and told us we were getting tickets.
“The rest of the crowd dispersed. We asked what the tickets were for and he relayed that we had crossed the tracks illegally.
“We were all very confused, as the train had cleared.
“There are no gates at Palos Park Metra station, but he explained that the bells and flashing lights were meant to be obeyed the same way as gates.
“All of us were not aware of this, as we assumed the train had cleared and we were safe to cross.
“While this is a law, this isn’t clear to commuters, nor are there any clear signs posted at the Metra station.
“If there are signs, they are not easily found (I haven’t seen them yet, and I keep looking).
“The four of us raised this issue, and the police shrugged it off, saying it’s not their problem.
“It’s been 3 weeks since that incident and I haven’t seen any changes in the behavior of the commuters or signage at the station.
“It’s as though they want us to break the law.
“And it became abundantly clear as to why on my court date.
“I counted 32 people in court yesterday at Bridgeview, including my three partners in crime on the day of the violation.
“We nodded solemnly to each other and took our seats, waiting for court to begin.
“The 32 people who attended court that day were joined by around 15 Metra police, and 10 police officers, including the one who gave us tickets on that Friday evening.
“Obviously I was hoping that he wouldn’t show up
“Based on the events in the courtroom that took place, I soon learned that this is a financial issue, not a safety issue.
“One by one people were called to the stand. Any logical arguments that were presented were quickly dismissed by the judge.
“In addition to the $250 ticket charges, an additional $254.50 in ‘court fees’ were added to the total cost, resulting in a total charge of $504.50.
“A lot of people opted for community service, stating that they couldn’t afford the cost.
“But many people opted to pay, as they are 9-5 office people who cannot afford more time devoted to tasks outside the home
“The court knows this, and they easily cleared at least $20,000 that day.
“Not a single person was able to plead ‘not guilty.’
“The judge actually said ‘you wanna try that again?’ when one defendant attempted to, and cornered them into that $504.50 fine.
“I waited for an hour as court clerks dealt with outdated computer systems to pay my fee.
“Then I drove out of the pothole-laden parking lot, wondering if my $504.50 would go to repaving the Bridgeview courthouse parking lot, or pay for IT updates to their systems.
“Probably not.
“I’m writing this in hopes that Patch will publish it to educate commuters as to what is happening.
“$20,000 was made in an hour at Bridgeview courthouse, and it seems like that money has to go somewhere.
“Some of us have been commuting for years on the Metra, and paid thousands in monthly ticket costs to board late trains and miss meetings at work due to delays.
“Who is getting this money?
“Where is it going?
“Is it helping our community?
“Or did we just pay a bunch of overpaid lawyers and judges?
“Why aren’t they educating commuters more clearly?
“It seems as though they want this to happen more frequently to keep the revenue coming in”
Cal—CL has been doing the same every morning and most other trains for years!
Yes, but not to this extent, right?
Over the years there have been stories reported where at railroad crossings after one train has passed in a direction AND bells still ringing and lights flashing, a car driver or person on foot disregards these and starts proceeding across the RR crossing. Then. BAM. The car or person is crushed by a train going in the opposite direction.
Fines by Bridgeview on citizens for stupidity and recklessness are deserved. A costly lesson. If fine were small such as $25, then the perps would again in the future disregard the bells and lights.
https://idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Transportation-System/Manuals-Guides-&-Handbooks/T2/P027.pdf
5/11-1011.Bridge and railroad signals
(a)No pedestrian shall enter or remain upon any bridge or approach thereto beyond the bridge signal, gate, or barrier after a bridge operation signal indication has been given.
(b)No pedestrian shall pass through, around, over, or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad grade crossing or bridge while such gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed.
(c)No pedestrian shall enter, remain upon or traverse over a railroad grade crossing or pedestrian walkway crossing a railroad track when an audible bell or clearly visible electric or mechanical signal device is operational giving warning of the presence, approach, passage, or departure of a railroad train.
(d)A violation of any part of this Section shall result in a fine.
(e)Local authorities shall impose fines as established in subsection
They’ve been nailing folks on the UP NW Line for over 5 years now.
Neighbor got one of those 500 dollar fines too.
He walks home and bunches of them would huddle together after getting off the train, who walked together and the local police got the lot of them when they dared to cross after the train left, but the bells still were ringing.
In most UP NW lines now, there are gates everywhere, for cars, pedestrians etc…signs with fine amounts on them, bells, whistles, etc.
Local cops are even known, along with Metra Police to wait especially for the commuters running late, and (still with plenty of time to make it safely) get nailed for daring to circumvent a gate or bell ringing.
Not only do they now miss their train, they get the ticket.
Its a tough and costly lesson.
Word of mouth among commuters after the initial roll out pretty much stopped the majority from doing it, now its the first timers running late who usually get it.
The fine is a bit steep but I guess it gets the message out.
Unfortunately those bent on committing suicide like former Metrarail Chief himself Phil Pagano from CL dont heed any sings, bells, whistles or gates.
Wonder if he got fined?
The law’s pretty clear about it.
If you’re a Metra commuter, you definitely should know better.
As they say, ignorance of the law is no excuse.
This action is really no different than cops running radar.
How long do you have to live in Illinois to know?
If you had just squatted to take a dump on the platform, shot some heroin while gibbering about Martians.
You could have got free meals and lodging.
Would an illegal alien that has no ID or a fake ID be issued a ticket in a case like this?
A $250 fine plus $250 in court costs in Bridgeview (and other places) is outrageous.
Yes, crossing against bells and flashing lights is illegal and dangerous.
A $50 fine would suffice and no court costs.
But people really don’t know about court costs.
Just visit McHenry County courts and then go to the Payment window.
Ask for a copy of Court Costs and Fees.
These are set by Illinois Statute and the McHenry County Board.
You CAN do something about it.
Put the pressure on the County Board to cut those assessments.
Even if you show up in court to plead Guilty (instead of mailing in your fine), Courts Costs & Fees will be added to the fine set by the judge.
Pagano tried that too