CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Mayor Lightfoot is defending plans to cast a wider net when it comes to fines for drivers caught on speed cameras across the city.
Mayor Lightfoot’s proposed budget includes lowering the speed at which drivers caught on city red light and speed cams could be fined to six miles per hour. Right now, it’s 10 miles per hour over the speed limit.
Several Aldermen complained during Monday’s City Council budget hearing that this seems counter to Mayor Lightfoot’s vow to reduce oppressive fines and fees. They said it will impact minorities and the poor more.
But, Mayor Lightfoot said this isn’t about revenue, as much as safety.
"The number that we have now look to impose fines at six miles over the speed limit was something that was voted by the City Council some years ago, but the bottom line is what we have seen unfortunately over the course of this year is a number of speed-related accidents and deaths go up exponentially," she said.
"It is clearly a public safety issue. The data, I think, really underscores that point, and unlike fines for non-moving violations that did fall disproportionately on black and brown Chicagoans and drove people into bankruptcy, people have control over whether or not they speed."
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The Mayor said the hope is that it could get people to slow down, especially around city parks.