The Illinois House on Wednesday afternoon followed action already taken by the Senate and approved the speed cameras that have been pushed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
The 64-50 vote was enough to send the bill to Gov. Pat Quinn for his signature. He's not given an indication as to whether he'll sign it.
Emanuel applauded the House action.
"This is another step in our comprehensive plan to protect our children from harm," he said in a written statement released to the media.
The legislation would allow the cameras to be placed not only where there are existing red light cameras, but also up to one-eighth mile around a school or a park. With more than 700 schools and 500 parks, that could cover a lot of ground.
Cameras around schools could function between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., while cameras on streets near parks would operate an hour before parks open and an hour after they close. Drivers caught violating posted speed limits would face $100 tickets.
Emanuel has said repeatedly that safety -- not money -- was behind his desire for the cameras.
"The victims here are the children, not those who are speeding," he said Monday during a press conference at Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications.
Still, there are estimates the cameras could bring in roughly $100 million in fines.
