Chicago Speed Cameras Surge in 2025
Chicago speed cameras issued tickets to drivers at an alarming rate of once every 48 seconds last year, according to a recent analysis. Data from the Chicago Department of Finance analyzed by the non-profit think tank Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) shows that citations for exceeding the speed limit by 6 to 10 mph increased by 24.6%, jumping from 424,754 in 2024 to 529,529 last year. Meanwhile, tickets for exceeding the limit by 11 mph or more also grew by 30%, rising from 94,906 to 123,786.
Revenue Impact and Policy Controversy
The surge in ticketing follows the installation of 50 additional speed cameras by the city last year, reversing a three-year downward trend in citation volume. Consequently, city revenue generated through speed cameras climbed by over 7%, increasing from $59.6 million in 2024 to $64.2 million. Of this total, 6 to 10 mph violations generated $43.2 million, while 11 mph or more violations brought in $21.1 million, though the figures still fell short of the city’s anticipated $11.4 million in additional revenue.
Speed enforcement thresholds were lowered during former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration in 2021, currently imposing a $35 fine for speeds 6 to 10 mph over the limit and a $100 fine for 11 mph or more. During his 2003 election campaign, Mayor Brandon Johnson criticized these lowered thresholds and expressed intentions to phase out the speed cameras. Additionally, researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) previously noted a lack of clear correlation between the volume of speed camera tickets and improved traffic safety.
