A warning to University of Illinois parents and students heading to Urbana-Champaign during the next month or two: The Hound has figured out how Gov. Pat Quinn is going to balance the state's books. Put dozens of Illinois state troopers on Interstate 57.
Not only put them there, but have them ready and willing to ticket motorists going to graduations or picking up their young 'uns. A recent weekend jaunt down I-57 saw dozens of state troopers wolf-packing along the highway. And, pulling those speeding and doing whatever else getting tickets. The Hound can only surmise what it was like south of the U of I on I-57 or perhaps I-24. But if the stretch from Kankakee to the U of I was any indication, can an eagle eye out for those Smokies.
For Quinn, sending a phalanx of state troopers on I-57 certainly is a gamble. After all, parents are voters, too. While he may use ticket revenue to balance the state's books, the governor certainly can lose votes if troopers become too aggressive in handing out tickets to those, who, actually are breaking the law by speeding on a roadway which in many states or nations would either have no speed limits or at least have a posted limit of 70 mph, not 62.
As The Hound notes, if heading to Urbana-Champaign: Be aware. Be very aware.
The 'Mighty' Quinn still believes that the numbers of those who will be ticketed will be outvoted by the numbers of SEIU members, Chicago machine 'ghosts', and ACORN 'activists'. Watch for similar efforts within the next few months; especially once summer comes around. It'll taper off just prior to mid-October, then ramp up again after the November elections.