(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — An advocacy group that has opposed red-light cameras is setting its sights on speed limit enforcement.
Citizens to Abolish Red Light Cameras gathered Tuesday morning on East Morgan Drive in Washington Park, where the highest number of speed-camera tickets are issued in Chicago.
"The hardest hit communities are the poorest communities on the South and West Sides of Chicago that's been ticketed at twice the rate as communities on the North Side of Chicago," executive director Mark Wallace said.
The Lightfoot Administration lowered the threshold under which a motorist will get a speeding ticket of $35. Before, drivers had to go 10 mph over the limit; now, it’s 6 mph.
But Wallace says it's about revenue, not safety, as he cited 2021 numbers from the Illinois Policy Institute.
"It has brought more than $89 million in revenue, with more than 2.8 million tickets issued, $59 million of that was issued in $35 tickets," he said.
Now, the nonprofit wants Chicago City Council members reverse Lightfoot's policy.
Ald. Anthony Beale previously tried to introduce an amendment to return the threshold for speed camera tickets to 10 mph.
Those going 11 mph or more over the limit would still get $100 tickets.
"The citizens are calling upon the city council and the mayor to call the amendment to the floor for a vote in the city council meeting that is taking place tomorrow,” said Wallace. "The city council members should have the right, and the responsibility, to speak on behalf of their constituents."