Chicago drivers should prepare for a slew of new speed cameras that are slated to begin ticketing soon. Following a period of issuing warnings, 16 new cameras activated on April 1 will switch to full enforcement on June 1, according to a report by the Chicago Sun-Times. These cameras are primarily located on the North Side and have been flashing warnings to speeding drivers in recent weeks. Chris Wood, a local homeowner, expressed his concerns to the Sun-Times, saying, "They do fly down here."
It's well documented that speed cameras issue more tickets shortly after becoming operational. The Chicago Sun-Times, in partnership with WBEZ, analyzed data indicating that the city's highest-ticketing camera in 2024, situated at 10540 S. Western Ave., issued nearly 24,000 tickets in its first 30 days. This trend is expected to continue as drivers adjust to the presence of the new cameras. However, Stacey Sutton, an associate professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, cautions that "Safety should be the primary focus — if not the only focus" for the use of speed cameras, a sentiment she proclaimed in a 2022 study which also noted a 15% reduction in fatal and injury crashes around camera locations.
Adding to those cameras, the Chicago Department of Transportation announced another seven speed cameras were activated on May 1. These are not just idle threats; starting from June 15, speeders will indeed face fines, with $35 tickets for those driving 6-10 mph over the speed limit and $100 for those exceeding it by 11 mph or more, a fact also reported by CBS News Chicago. Four more cameras are set to begin warning speeders from May 15, with tickets following on June 30. All told, these efforts are part of Mayor Brandon Johnson's plan to install 50 new speed cameras throughout 2025 to generate an expected $11.4 million in revenue.
The city has underscored that the new speed cameras serve dual purposes: enforcing legal driving speeds and bolstering municipal finances. Christina Whitehouse, from the advocacy group Bike Lane Uprising, conveyed to the Sun-Times her support for the cameras, noting that "People are paying the price, and they are paying with lives lost." Amid the discussions of finance and safety, the Department of Transportation reminds citizens that these cameras are positioned in strategic locations based on crash data and stakeholder feedback to address traffic safety concerns.
Chicago's comprehensive speed enforcement program dictates that cameras near schools will only issue tickets during specific hours, while those near parks will operate within the parks' open hours, as disclosed by CBS News Chicago. The city's obligation to improve road safety continues, aligning with legally mandated signs alerting drivers to the speed enforcement zones around schools and parks. Motorists in Chicago will need to stay vigilant on the roads to avoid these increased ticketing measures.
