In Illinois, a picture is worth a thousand words, then the value of video… is priceless.

Instantly save time and resources.

With RoadProof, you can save thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of time tracking down the video data you need, for whatever your end use case might be – whether it’s an accident case or criminal investigation.

Recorded video data that used to take days or weeks to find, can now be searched for, located and downloaded in a matter of minutes using the platform.

“The platform continues to be vital and a remarkable tool. It’s a great asset to our agency for all of our cases.”

Master Sergeant John A. Boos
Traffic Homicide Investigation, Florida Highway Patrol – Florida

Video, weather and incident data at your fingertips.

Illinois Traffic Cameras: What You Need to Know About Access and Recorded Footage

The Illinois Department of Transportation manages traffic cameras located along major highways and interstates and state routes, while the City of Chicago is in charge of cameras at approximately 7,000 intersections in the Chicago area. Other county and municipal governments also manage their own traffic cameras. This makes it difficult to determine which agency manages the traffic camera that captured the accident, and therefore, the procedure for requesting footage is also unique to each agency.

How Do I Locate Illinois Traffic Cameras?

For the purpose of locating live traffic cameras, the Illinois Department of Transportation provides a public-facing camera portal through which users can watch live video of traffic cameras located throughout the State of Illinois. A large number of cameras are located in the Chicago area, including those on I-90, I-94, and I-290. Users can access live feeds of these cameras via IDOT’s Gateway Traffic Camera System website.

However, live traffic cameras and access to recorded video of the same location are two completely different issues. Live traffic cameras are used as a traffic tool and are open to the public, but access to video recordings of traffic cameras are subject to a formal public records request filed under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and even if a request is made promptly, the video may have been deleted due to limited retention periods.

Can the Public Watch Traffic Cameras?

Yes, the public may watch live Illinois traffic cameras via the IDOT website and the City of Chicago’s traffic management website. These feeds are intended to assist drivers in determining current road conditions prior to travel. Recorded traffic camera video is not available to the general public. Since recorded video is retained by governmental agencies, access to recorded video is typically obtained through a formal public records request submitted pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Even when a request is submitted promptly, there is no guarantee that the video has not been erased due to short retention periods.

Therefore, the sooner after an incident that the video is requested, the greater the likelihood that the video remains available.

How Can I Obtain Video from Illinois Traffic Cameras Online?

Accessing Illinois traffic camera video online is not as simple as submitting a single request. There are numerous agencies that manage traffic cameras in Illinois, and each has its own procedures and protocols regarding requests for video. Below is a basic overview of how this process typically occurs:

• Identify the specific traffic camera(s) that recorded the incident.
• Identify the date and time of the incident.
• Identify the governmental agency responsible for operating the traffic camera(s) that recorded the incident.
• Submit a formal public records request (FOIA) to the identified agency.

Allow sufficient time for the agency to review your request and provide the video.
Some agencies charge fees for responding to a FOIA request, others require the submission of a specific form, and many will refer you to another agency.

For private citizens, this process can be extremely frustrating and time-consuming. For attorneys, law enforcement agencies, insurance companies, etc., this process can be the difference between winning or losing a case.

Why Attorneys and Law Enforcement Agencies Choose RoadProof to Retrieve Illinois Footage

RoadProof completely eliminates the frustration and time required to locate the correct agency and submit a FOIA request.

Attorneys, law firms, accident reconstruction experts, and law enforcement agencies across Illinois utilize RoadProof to locate and obtain archived traffic camera video in minutes.

RoadProof provides verified professionals with immediate access to a library of over 40 million hours of recorded video data from thousands of traffic cameras located across the United States, including Illinois.

In addition to providing access to archived traffic camera video, RoadProof also provides real-time and historical weather data and a live incident feed, allowing investigators to fully understand all of the events surrounding an accident.

Whereas finding and retrieving video of accidents previously took days or weeks, RoadProof enables investigators to find and download video in minutes. Additionally, RoadProof utilizes an automated system to match video of nearby cameras to reported incidents, thereby preserving that video in the archive for a minimum of one year, significantly longer than most governmental agencies retain such video.

What if I was Involved in an Illinois Car Accident?

If you were involved in an Illinois car accident and believe that there is video of the accident from a traffic camera, RoadProof does not provide direct access to individuals due to privacy and security concerns.

However, RoadProof will allow attorneys and law enforcement to access the video.
If you are currently working with an attorney, direct them to RoadProof, and they can immediately access the video necessary to support your case.

If you do not have an attorney, RoadProof can connect you with a qualified attorney in your area who can investigate your claim and attempt to obtain video evidence to support your claim.

Video footage from traffic cameras can clearly show which party had the right-of-way, if anyone ran a red light, and the condition of the roadway at the time of the accident.

Such objective evidence typically assists insurance companies in making reasonable settlement offers and is a strong piece of evidence in a court of law.

Illinois Traffic Cameras Are Everywhere, But Finding the Footage Is Difficult

As mentioned above, Illinois traffic cameras are ubiquitous, ranging from the expressways in Chicago to the rural state routes in the southern portion of the state. While Illinois has invested heavily in creating a robust traffic camera network, the video footage from these cameras does not remain static for long, and the agencies that operate these cameras are not always easy to work with.

Regardless of whether you are a law firm pursuing a personal injury claim, a law enforcement agency investigating a vehicle collision, or an insurance company attempting to recreate a vehicle collision, RoadProof provides you with a quick and efficient method to obtain the video evidence you need before it is permanently destroyed.

RoadProof is available to law enforcement agencies for free and to attorneys, law firms, and businesses through a subscription-based service. If you were involved in a vehicle collision, contact RoadProof to speak with a partner attorney in your area.