Call for establishment of interagency working group to assess and redesign speed limit enforcement structure and practices in City of Chicago
- Record number: SR2024-0010992
- Type: Resolution; category: Committee/Public Hearings
- Status: Final
- Sponsor: La Spata, Daniel (with 8 co-sponsors)
- Committee: Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety
- Introduced: Jul 17, 2024
- Final action: Jan 15, 2025
- Official record: Office of the City Clerk
Roll call: Adopted Jan 15, 2025
49 yea, 1 nay. This was a divided vote. On motion of Alderperson La Spata, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Mitchell, the resolution was Adopted. Voted at the City Council meeting of Jan 15, 2025.
Nay (1): Brian Hopkins (2)
Yea (45): Daniel La Spata (1), Pat Dowell (3), Lamont J. Robinson (4), Desmon C. Yancy (5), William E. Hall (6), Gregory I. Mitchell (7), Michelle A. Harris (8), Anthony Beale (9), Peter Chico (10), Nicole T. Lee (11), Julia M. Ramirez (12), Marty Quinn (13), Raymond A. Lopez (15), Stephanie D. Coleman (16), David H. Moore (17), Derrick G. Curtis (18), Matthew J. O'Shea (19), Jeanette B. Taylor (20), Ronnie L. Mosley (21), Michael D. Rodriguez (22), Silvana Tabares (23), Monique L. Scott (24), Jessica L. Fuentes (26), Walter R. Burnett (27), Jason C. Ervin (28), Chris Taliaferro (29), Ruth Cruz (30), Felix Cardona Jr. (31), Scott Waguespack (32), William Conway (34), Gilbert Villegas (36), Emma Mitts (37), Nicholas Sposato (38), Samantha Nugent (39), Andre Vasquez Jr. (40), Anthony V. Napolitano (41), Brendan Reilly (42), Timothy R. Knudsen (43), Bennett R. Lawson (44), James M. Gardiner (45), Angela Clay (46), Matthew J. Martin (47), Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48), Maria E. Hadden (49), Debra L. Silverstein (50)
Former members who voted: Jeylu B. Gutierrez (Yea), Byron Sigcho-Lopez (Yea), Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (Yea), Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez (Yea)
Plain-language summary
Written by AI (@cf/openai/gpt-oss-120b) from the ordinance text only: SR2024-0010992 Substitute Resolution.pdf. AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.
The City Council wants a new working group to study and redesign how speed cameras and traffic tickets are used in Chicago, especially because many fines fall on Black and Latinx neighborhoods. The group must meet within 60 days and give recommendations by August 1, 2025.
- Chicago has 162 speed cameras in about 68 of its 1,500 Safety Zones.
- Black and Latinx areas receive the highest number of tickets per household.
- In 2023, speed cameras generated $46.9 million in base fines and nearly $55.4 million in late fees.
- Low-income families face greater hardship from fines, fees, and related penalties.
- The resolution directs the Traffic Compliance Administrator to form an interagency working group and deliver recommendations by August 1, 2025.
Money
- $2 million – tickets issued by five speed cameras in 2023
- $46.9 million – base fines paid on time from speed cameras in 2023
- $55.4 million – late fees from speed cameras in 2023
Who: Chicago residents, especially Black, Latinx, and low-income motorists, as well as city agencies that handle traffic enforcement and revenue, are affected.
Where: City of Chicago, including the South Side and the 1st Ward
Timeline
- Jul 17, 2024: Referred, City Council
- Oct 21, 2024: Substituted, Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety
- Oct 21, 2024: Recommended to Pass, Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety
- Oct 22, 2024: Deferred and Published, City Council
- Jan 15, 2025: Adopted, City Council
Documents
- SR2024-0010992 Committee Letter - Equitable Enforcement Resolution - Ward 01.pdf (Committee Letter)
- w1 r10992.pdf (Legislation)
- SR2024-0010992 Substitute Resolution.pdf (Legislation)