“Chicago’s speed cameras turned out to be a huge cash cow for the city, at the expense of its residents. The repeal of the policy will save Chicagoans millions in potential speeding fines – particularly low-income families."
PRESS RELEASE from the
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTECONTACT: Micky Horstman (312) 607-4977
Chicago committee votes to repeal $59 million automatic speed camera ticketing policy:
Illinois Policy Institute statement
CHICAGO (June 21, 2022) — Today, a Chicago City Council committee passed a resolution to repeal Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s automatic speed camera ticketing policy that has generated millions from Chicago drivers. It now goes to the full City Council for a vote tomorrow.
Lightfoot’s policy lowered the automatic ticketing threshold in Chicago from 10 mph above the speed limit to 6 mph – instantly issuing a $35 ticket for drivers caught going 6 mph over the speed limit.
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The Illinois Policy Institute’s original analysis of Chicago’s speed cameras found:
- The city brought in $89 million from speeding tickets in 2021. Of that, $59 million came from the new category of $35 tickets.
- 2.8 million speed camera tickets were issued in 2021 – more tickets than there are residents of Chicago.
- In 2021, a ticket was issued every 11 seconds.
- More than one-third of the most lucrative cameras – 23% of total city revenue – came from the largely impoverished South Side of Chicago, issuing $20 million in tickets.
- There was no connection between speed cameras and public safety. In fact, traffic fatalities increased by 13% the year the policy went into effect.
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Adam Schuster, vice president of policy at the nonpartisan Illinois Policy Institute, offered the following statement:
“Chicago’s speed cameras turned out to be a huge cash cow for the city, at the expense of its residents. The repeal of the policy will save Chicagoans millions in potential speeding fines – particularly low-income families.
“This system was hurting all Chicagoans, but extracted the most dollars from the people who could least afford it. Removing this exploitative and ineffective ticketing policy is a reminder that government officials can and should be responsive to their residents’ needs. Chicago politicians now must find other ways to balance their budget besides nickel-and-diming their residents. A good start is supporting constitutional pension reform.”
For bookings or interviews, contact media@illinoispolicy.org or (312) 607-4977.
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