This message is brought to you by Aquaman Sam, who thought my Chicago readers may want to beware!

Illinois will begin using photo radar in freeway work zones in July. Second offense tickets are $1,000 with license suspension.

Beginning in July the State of Illinois will use speed cameras in areas designated as "Work Zones" on major freeways. Anyone caught by these devices will be mailed a $375.00 ticket for the FIRST offense, but he SECOND offense will cost $1000.00 and comes with a 90-Day suspension. Drivers will also receive demerit points against their license, which allows insurance companies to raise their rates.

This represents the harshest penalty structure yet for a city or state using PHOTO enforcements. The State will begin with TWO camera vans issuing tickets in work zones with speed limits lowered to 45 MPH. Photographs of both the Driver's face and License plate are taken.

As someone who doesn't really pay attention to workzones, this is something that I'll really be watching out for.

However, this will be much more effective to slowing people down than those signs that they used to have, written in kid scrawl that I had to actually READ as I was driving..."Please slow down, my daddy has died...etc" I'd think more people would get into accidents reading it!