Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety meeting, November 13, 2023
- When: Mon, Nov 13, 2023, 9:30 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
- Video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/882964044
- Transcript: full text (14,864 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, heard public comment largely about police traffic stops and street safety, then approved its October Rule 45 report and recommended passage of the sign ordinances, the department-recommended ordinances and the ordinances without departmental recommendation on its agenda. The committee held a subject matter hearing on the chair's resolution on Chicago Police Department traffic stops, at which the Free2Move Coalition and Impact for Equity presented data on the rise in stops for minor violations, racial disparities in stops and searches, and three proposals: ending pretextual stops, limiting stops for low-level violations and ending suspicionless consent searches. The chair noted that because of pending litigation no city or police personnel would testify. Members asked about how to share the testimony with CPD, policy processes, alternatives for correcting equipment violations, license plate non-compliance, automated enforcement and the role of police in traffic safety; no vote was taken on the resolution.
Topics: pretextual traffic stops, racial disparities in policing, consent searches, traffic safety, automated enforcement, pedestrian safety, signs and traffic ordinances, Rule 45 report
Agenda items discussed
- 33:28 Rule 45 report from October: passed
- 34:01 Direct introduction sign ordinances on page 2: passed
- 34:20 Department-recommended ordinances on pages 3 and 4: passed
- 34:46 Ordinances on pages 5 through 17 passed without departmental recommendation: passed
- 35:32 Subject matter hearing on a resolution regarding Chicago Police Department traffic stops: discussed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Daniel La Spata (chair): Noted the city is defending litigation on traffic stops, so no city or police personnel would testify, and that the lack of a city response should not be read as agreement. (35:55); Said the data and testimony prompted the hearing, contrasted it with his own experience of never being stopped, and cited reduced police workload and rebuilding trust as reasons to examine the policies. (1:09:02); Said the presentation and testimony can be forwarded to CPD and he would consider bringing the department back to the committee. (1:11:55)
- Lamont J. Robinson (alderperson): Thanked witnesses for sharing difficult experiences and asked how the testimony could be conveyed to CPD. (1:10:56)
- Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Asked what the policy process would look like through the City Council and the public safety commission. (1:12:38); Said driving behavior in his area has worsened while enforcement has not improved, and asked for a breakdown of stops by reason. (1:13:46)
- Desmon C. Yancy (alderperson): Asked about the effect of stops in neighborhoods that are not majority Black and Brown. (1:21:49); Asked why CPD views stops as relationship-building given the data presented. (1:23:10); Described being stopped twice in about a week for lacking a front license plate and said it felt like an imposition rather than community building. (1:24:05)
- Brian Hopkins (alderperson): Asked whether the increase in expired registration stops was correlated with higher post-pandemic license plate non-compliance. (1:25:38); Agreed administrative enforcement can be preferable and noted registration revenue funds roads and bridges. (1:27:59); Advocated technology-based enforcement such as speed cameras to improve roadway safety and remove human bias from stops. (1:28:39)
- Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Thanked witnesses and said officers also face difficult expectations, including traffic stops. (1:30:16); Said Edgewater residents want police on foot engaging with businesses rather than a 177% increase in traffic stops, while hit-and-runs await follow-up. (1:31:52); Asked how the coalition is working with other parts of Illinois. (1:32:50)
- Jessica L. Fuentes (alderperson): Described being stopped for allegedly using a cell phone she did not have and said residents with trauma may not react to stops the way she could. (1:37:09); Asked whether stops spike at certain times of the month, suggesting a possible quota, and whether the data could show that. (1:39:00); Supported developing administrative processes for expired stickers and equipment issues so they are not criminalized. (1:40:41)
- Ruth Cruz (alderperson): Asked that the police department be included in future conversations and said residents in her ward want stop sign enforcement after a cyclist was killed. (1:42:24)
Exchanges between members
- 1:11:23 Alderperson Lamont J. Robinson asked the chair how the testimony could be provided to CPD.
- 1:11:55 The chair answered Alderperson Lamont J. Robinson that the presentation and testimony would be forwarded to CPD.
- 1:30:16 Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth thanked Alderperson Brian Hopkins for raising technology in policing and said she looked forward to that work.
- 1:36:45 Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth thanked the chair for holding the hearing and for speaking about his own experience.
- 1:40:41 Alderperson Jessica L. Fuentes said she appreciated Alderperson Brian Hopkins points about administrative enforcement.
- 1:44:11 Responding to Alderperson Ruth Cruz request to include police, the chair explained CPD's absence was due to pending litigation.