Life in the Fast Lane May Cost You

Lead-footed metropolitan-area motorists beware.

Proposals in both the Illinois House and Senate would allow governments in nine heavily populated counties to install camera-radar mechanisms on accident-prone thoroughfares.

"People are driving just too darned fast," said Rep. Joseph Lyons.

The Chicago Democrat is sponsoring the proposal with Sen. Terry Link of Waukegan.

The cameras would take photos of license plates on cars moving too fast. Violators would get a $100 ticket in the mail, but the infraction wouldn't count against the number of moving violations necessary to suspend a driver's license.

Critics say it's merely an effort by municipalities to pad their treasuries, but the lawmakers contend it's a safety issue, and they point out that people who don't speed have nothing to worry about.

The bill would apply to Cook, DuPage, Lake, McHenry, Kendall, Will, Madison and St. Clair counties.