# Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety meeting, September 22, 2025

- When: Mon, Sep 22, 2025, 10:15 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: [Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/pedestrian-and-traffic-safety)
- Video: https://vimeo.com/1119885398
- Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/1119885398.txt) (7,854 words, automatic captions)

## Meeting notes

> AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.

The Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety, chaired by Alderperson Daniel La Spata, heard two public commenters, one of whom urged that speed camera revenue be reserved for traffic safety infrastructure. The committee approved its July Rule 45 report and recommended approval of the direct introduction, recommended, and no-recommendation traffic ordinances on its agenda, including several CDOT substitutes, while holding item 12 on page 15 and item 13 on page 16. It then held a subject matter hearing, with no votes, on the Equity in Enforcement Working Group's report on automated speed enforcement, which the chair presented along with recommendations on transparency, effectiveness and equity such as a revenue lockbox, a public dashboard, and targeted outreach to repeat violators. The City Comptroller and a CDOT managing deputy commissioner responded, and members asked about ticket collection rates, fleet violators, infrastructure prioritization, incentives for good driving, and funding crossing guards with camera revenue.

Topics: Automated speed enforcement, Fines and fees equity, Speed camera revenue, Traffic safety infrastructure, Repeat violators and fleets, Crossing guards, Traffic ordinances

### Agenda items discussed

- [22:59](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=1379) Rule 45 report from July: passed
- [23:23](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=1403) Direct introduction ordinances on pages 2 through 7: passed
- [23:51](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=1431) Recommended items on pages 8 through 11, including a substitute for item 8 on page 8: passed
- [24:37](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=1477) No recommendation items on pages 12 through 16, with substitutes for item 9 on page 15 and items 2, 9 and 10 on page 16: passed
- [25:19](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=1519) Item 12 on page 15 and item 13 on page 16: held
- [26:02](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=1562) Subject matter hearing on the Equity in Enforcement Working Group report on automated speed enforcement: discussed

### Alderpersons who spoke

- [Daniel La Spata](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/1) (chair): Said the working group came from a January resolution in the Vision Zero package and included departments and community organizations. ([27:07](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=1627)); Said speed cameras reduce speeds and crashes, but many residents view them as revenue-driven, and high-ticket locations are often four-lane roads in majority Black communities. ([28:38](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=1718)); Compared a South Pullman camera location with a high ticket count to an Irving Park location with traffic calming, arguing infrastructure reduces tickets. ([30:57](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=1857))
- [Bennett R. Lawson](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/44) (alderperson): Asked for the citywide payment rate on automated speed tickets and how the city could collect more unpaid fines. ([53:18](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=3198)); Said corporations and fleet owners may treat tickets as a cost of doing business and should not receive amnesty. ([54:53](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=3293))
- [Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/48) (alderperson): Asked about the 25 fleets with 500 or more tickets and whether BACP was part of the working group. ([55:46](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=3346)); Asked whether the ticket heat map is used by CDOT to prioritize infrastructure investment. ([57:19](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=3439)); Said her ward has two new cameras with high ticket counts and asked how camera revenue is reinvested in the communities that need it. ([1:00:00](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=3600))
- [Matthew J. Martin](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/47) (alderperson): Asked about next steps and ownership for incentives for good driving behavior, saying they could counter the view that cameras are a cash grab. ([1:02:58](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=3778)); Asked how camera locations will be reassessed and urged data-driven evaluation of safety improvements such as speed feedback signs and bump-outs. ([1:04:20](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=3860)); Suggested some camera revenue could go to aldermanic menu funds or ward-based lockboxes for local safety improvements. ([1:07:28](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=4048))
- [Matthew J. O'Shea](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/19) (alderperson): Said a camera in his ward issued over 94,000 violations in 2024, 88% to non-city residents. ([1:09:32](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=4172)); Said CPS removed crossing guards at many locations without notice and a child was later hit at one, and proposed moving crossing guards to OEMC funded by camera revenue in a lockbox. ([1:10:19](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=4219))

### Exchanges between members

- [55:28](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=3328) The chair responded to Alderperson Bennett R. Lawson that fleet ticket issues were concerning and worth further discussion.
- [57:03](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=3423) Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth echoed Alderperson Bennett R. Lawson point that fleets treat tickets as a cost of doing business.
- [56:26](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=3386) The chair answered Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth that BACP was not part of the working group.
- [1:01:03](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=3663) The chair answered Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth by listing the state-allowed uses of camera revenue.
- [1:03:33](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=3813) The chair responded to Alderperson Matthew J. Martin that driving incentives could be revisited in 2026.
- [1:08:02](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=4082) The chair said he was hearing Alderperson Matthew J. Martin suggestion about directing revenue to local infrastructure.
- [1:10:41](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=4241) Alderperson Matthew J. O'Shea told the chair he hopes to work with him on moving crossing guards to OEMC.
- [1:11:42](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F?t=4302) The chair told Alderperson Matthew J. O'Shea his point was germane, citing state-allowed spending on safe passage around schools.

## Documents

- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/2745b33a-1fb2-4e93-ab68-c636deb63331.pdf)
- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/36065987-5e2c-48c4-93e3-237b39db438b.pdf)
- [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/89c0788a-7571-f011-bec2-001dd830169e.pdf)
- [Summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/218e4fd6-b343-4672-b6c1-c5e1abacb1e1.pdf)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/962F62E6-7371-F011-BEC2-001DD805328F · Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt