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Orland Park launches monthly public safety updates and weighs speed and noise cameras amid complaints about late-night racing
Summary
The Village of Orland Park rolled out a monthly public safety update and discussed expanded enforcement and technology — including exploring noise-detection and warning speed cameras — after residents reported nightly street racing and loud mufflers. Officials said state law limits citation use of speed cameras outside Chicago and that the village is lobbying Springfield for changes.
Orland Park officials opened their April 20 meeting by unveiling a new monthly public safety update and video from the police department, and spent a large portion of the session discussing persistent complaints about speeding and loud vehicle noise.
“We're launching a monthly public safety update to keep you informed on police activity and what's happening in the department,” said Sergeant Wall of the Orland Park Police Department in the video that kicked off the discussion, summarizing recent traffic enforcement including more than 2,200 traffic stops in March, nearly 700 speeding stops and 35 arrests for aggravated speeding.
Mayor James Dodge told the board and residents the village intends to keep the issue in front of the public and in Springfield. “Right now we really can't do speed cameras by state law,” he said, noting the village is actively engaged with state and county officials and its lobbyists to seek changes.
A resident who signed in to speak described repeated late-night racing and sleepless nights: “We can't sleep. We can't sleep. Even last night at 12:30 there were cars racing,” she said, and reported starting a petition seeking noise- or speed-detection cameras.
Trustees said they are hearing similar complaints from constituents, particularly along LaGrange Road and nearby subdivision streets. Trustee Lawler described repeated neighborhood incidents and urged parents to talk to young drivers; Trustee Katsenes urged public messaging and a signage campaign to warn nonresidents that speeding will be enforced.
Officials outlined a multi-pronged approach: stepped-up enforcement (including recent arrests for extreme speeds and impoundment when appropriate), a planned neighborhood traffic engineering program to pursue physical calming measures, expanded use of speed-display signs and public-relations efforts, and exploration of technologies such as noise cameras and warning-only speed cameras where state law currently allows only Chicago to issue speed-camera citations.
Darin Reed, the village's newly introduced EMA and special events coordinator, was named as part of an expanded emergency-management effort discussed during the public safety update.
Board members said staffing increases—eight officers were added recently—and changes to patrol schedules have helped enforcement capacity, but they acknowledged coverage limits and the need for technology and engineering solutions. Trustees also noted possible grant funding and emphasized residents should report violations to help police allocate resources.
Next steps: the village will include regular public-safety topics in monthly updates, pursue legislative outreach on speed-camera authority, evaluate noise-camera feasibility and potential grants, and begin neighborhood traffic-calming projects. No ordinance or formal policy change was adopted at the meeting.
