Chicago’s first operational speed cameras are going to start issuing warning tickets Monday near Gompers Park on the North Side, with fines kicking in after the first 30 days, city officials announced Friday.

Two cameras will keep tabs on motorists along Foster Avenue and Pulaski Road near the park when it’s open. By the end of next week, additional cameras are expected to be in place at Garfield Park on the West Side, Washington Park on the South Side and Marquette Park on the Southwest Side.

By the end of the year, the city hopes to have cameras up near 50 parks and schools under a program that under state law would allow cameras at up to 300 schools and parks in designated safety zones. A Tribune analysis showed they could cover nearly half the city.

Although Mayor Rahm Emanuel repeatedly has said the program is designed to make the city’s children safer, it’s clear that it also will significantly beef up city coffers.

If as many tickets are issued by the cameras as violations counted during test runs, the city could issue $1.2 million in fines a month in each safety zone. That would end up bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars, far more money than the city’s estimated $40 million to $60 million a year.

Once the 30-day warning period ends after each camera goes up, owners of vehicles that exceed the speed limit by 6 to 10 mph in safety zones will get $35 tickets in the mail. Those whose vehicles top the limit by more than 10 mph will get $100 tickets.

Near parks, the cameras will be active when the parks are open, generally from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. The speed limits near parks is 30 mph.

Near schools, the cameras will be active from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on school days. From 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., the speed limit in those areas is 20 mph when children are present and 30 mph when they are not. From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., the limit is 30 mph.

hdardick@tribune.com

Twitter @ReporterHal