# Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety meeting, June 26, 2025 - When: Thu, Jun 26, 2025, 1:00 PM (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/showcase/8928552/video/1094524581 - Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/1094524581.txt) (25,529 words, official 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, held a subject matter hearing on police traffic stops in Chicago, sponsored by Alderperson Desmon C. Yancy; no votes were taken. Impact for Equity presented the Free to Move coalition's analysis of 2024 CPD traffic stop data and its three-part proposal to limit low-level stops, restrict pretextual stops and end suspicionless consent searches. CPD described its draft traffic stop policy, open for public comment through July 14, and its officer training, while the executive director of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability outlined commissioner views on the draft and the potential inclusion of traffic stops in the consent decree. Committee members, including Alderpersons Hopkins, Curtis, Cruz and Manaa-Hoppenworth, discussed enforcement of minor violations, gun recoveries, data discrepancies and training, and a recorded statement from a Philadelphia council member on that city's Driving Equality law was played. Topics: traffic stops, pretextual stops, consent searches, CPD traffic stop policy, consent decree, racial disparities, police training, traffic safety, data reporting ### Agenda items discussed - [14:21](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=861) Public comment - [19:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=1185) Subject matter hearing on use of police traffic stops in Chicago, impacts on traffic safety, and reform efforts by CPD and CCPSA: discussed ### Alderpersons who spoke - [Daniel La Spata](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/1) (chair): Said it was encouraging that the topic has been taken up in listening sessions and community meetings since the committee's 2023 hearing. ([22:30](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=1350)); Told Alderperson Brian Hopkins he agreed everyone is responsible for safe driving and said he found the decline in citations for moving violations disconcerting. ([1:21:36](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=4896)); Clarified that the committee is not considering an ordinance on traffic stops and the hearing was meant to shed light on CPD and CCPSA policymaking. ([1:26:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=5205)) - [Desmon C. Yancy](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/5) (alderperson): Said the issue is personal, describing being pulled over for minor issues, and cited data that over 65% of 2024 stops were for two minor offense types. ([20:24](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=1224)); Said Black and Latino drivers are stopped at higher rates without meaningful public safety benefit and that the stops divert resources from serious crimes. ([21:21](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=1281)); Called for ending low-level non-safety stops, limiting non-consensual searches and focusing stops on public safety concerns. ([21:51](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=1311)) - [Brian Hopkins](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/2) (alderperson): Said a policy based on an officer's intent would be extremely difficult to define or prove. ([1:16:33](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=4593)); Said the reform could lead officers to issue more citations instead of warnings so they can document legitimate stops. ([1:17:06](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=4626)); Said minor traffic violation enforcement is public safety based, citing functioning lights and valid registration. ([1:18:33](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=4713)) - [Derrick G. Curtis](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/18) (alderperson): Said he agreed with Alderperson Brian Hopkins while understanding the goals of the reform. ([1:27:42](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=5262)); Described adding speed humps, signs and red light cameras in his ward because people drive fast and break the law. ([1:28:51](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=5331)); Said changing the ordinance as requested could lead people to believe they will not be stopped in Chicago. ([1:31:33](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=5493)) - [Ruth Cruz](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/30) (alderperson): Thanked the chair for hearing from both CPD and the coalition. ([1:40:18](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=6018)); Calculated about 2,198 guns recovered from 2024 traffic stops and asked the coalition what that number means to them. ([1:40:36](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=6036)); Asked whether limiting low-level stops, pretextual stops and consent searches would actually yield more gun recoveries. ([1:42:42](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=6162)) - [Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/48) (alderperson): Offered condolences to CPD on the loss of an officer. ([1:50:09](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=6609)); Told Alderperson Desmon C. Yancy that he and every Black and brown person should feel safe driving in any Chicago neighborhood. ([1:50:31](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=6631)); Said she was surprised by the number of traffic stops in her diverse Edgewater-area ward and was concerned about residents' sense of safety. ([1:51:21](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=6681)) ### Exchanges between members - [20:15](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=1215) The chair invited Alderperson Desmon C. Yancy, the sponsor, to make an opening statement. - [22:30](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=1350) The chair thanked Alderperson Desmon C. Yancy for his opening statement. - [1:09:57](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=4197) The chair recognized Alderperson Desmon C. Yancy first for questions and comments. - [1:16:21](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=4581) Alderperson Desmon C. Yancy thanked the chairman after his questions. - [1:21:36](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=4896) The chair told Alderperson Brian Hopkins he agreed with much of what he said about safe driving. - [1:21:58](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=4918) The chair asked Alderperson Brian Hopkins whether he was referring to CPD's proposed policy or the coalition's proposal. - [1:22:12](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=4932) Alderperson Brian Hopkins answered that he was responding to the coalition's criticism and needed to review CPD's draft further. - [1:27:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=5265) Alderperson Derrick G. Curtis said he could not agree more with Alderperson Brian Hopkins. - [1:33:33](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=5613) The chair thanked Alderperson Derrick G. Curtis for his remarks. - [1:39:21](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=5961) The chair followed up on Alderperson Derrick G. Curtis point about speed cameras with working group findings. - [1:40:15](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=6015) Alderperson Ruth Cruz thanked the chairman for hearing from both CPD and the coalition. - [1:50:06](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=6606) Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth thanked the chair before her remarks. - [1:50:31](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=6631) Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth addressed Alderperson Desmon C. Yancy about his experience being stopped, saying he should feel safe driving anywhere in Chicago. - [2:05:18](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=7518) The chair thanked Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth. - [2:11:42](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B?t=7902) The chair thanked Alderperson Desmon C. Yancy for sponsoring the hearing resolution. ## Documents - [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/d11f064a-649e-4857-9e39-13cb7b0ee4e7.pdf) - [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/59b414b9-8f4c-f011-8779-001dd809c80b.pdf) --- Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/C1B232B2-8B4C-F011-8779-001DD809C80B ยท Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt