Overview:
Police made 35 aggravated speeding arrests in March as Orland Park escalates enforcement against traffic violations residents say disrupt nightly sleep.
Orland Park police made 35 arrests for aggravated speeding in March alone, part of an escalating enforcement push against traffic violations and excessive noise that residents at Monday’s village board meeting said disturbs their sleep and quality of life.
The crackdown reflects growing frustration. One resident told village board members she wakes every night to racing cars and calls police daily about the problem. The village board recently discussed a multi-pronged strategy to address complaints that have become a top community concern.
Police conducted more than 2,200 traffic stops in March, including nearly 700 for speeding. Each aggravated speeding arrest results in vehicle impoundment. The village recently hired eight additional officers and shifted to 12-hour shifts, increasing patrol presence and reducing overtime costs.
The village also raised fines for noise violations and is updating ordinances to make vehicle recovery more expensive for extreme speeders — increasing the financial cost of non-compliance.
Speed and noise cameras remain the village’s long-term goal, but state law currently limits their use to Chicago. Village officials are actively lobbying state legislators to change that restriction, though no timeline has been set. In the interim, police are exploring warning-based speed cameras — similar to systems used in other suburbs — that would alert violators without issuing citations. Noise cameras, which monitor decibel levels and issue citations, are also being pursued.
The village plans a public awareness campaign with signage on village property warning speeders of enforcement. Police will highlight enforcement efforts through social media posts to demonstrate the severity of the problem.
The village’s engineering department is beginning a neighborhood traffic project to identify physical solutions — such as traffic calming measures — that could slow vehicles in subdivisions without relying solely on police presence.
Village officials noted the problem is not unique to Orland Park. Mayors across the region report similar complaints about speeding and loud mufflers in their communities. The village is also launching monthly public safety updates to keep residents informed about police activity and enforcement efforts.