ORDER
WHEREAS, In 2020, a University of Illinois Chicago investigation into speed and red light camera ticketing discovered that households in majority-Black ZIP codes were ticked at three times the rate of households in majority-white ZIP code areas; and
WHEREAS, In 2021, the Chicago City Council approved lowering the speeds at which cameras issued citations to 6 MPH above the speed limit; and
WHEREAS, Six months after implementing the changes, ProPublica found that the racial disparities in ticketing persisted; and
WHEREAS, UIC's College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs' research found that half of the tickets issued to low-income earners end up incurring additional penalties; and
WHEREAS, The compounded debt from multiple tickets can force people to file for bankruptcy;
WHEREAS, By 2017. over 10,000 individuals filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy due to unpaid tickets and fees, with eight of the 10 ZIP codes with the most accumulated ticket debt in majority-black areas; now, therefore
BE IT ORDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
The Commissioner for the Department of Transportation shall deliver to the Committee on Finance a report identifying racial and geographic disparities in camera ticketing and a comprehensive plan that equitably distributes their placement and enforcement practices as to not disproportionately impact any demographic within 90 days of the passage of this order. Within 30 days of such delivery, the Committee on Finance shall hold a hearing on the report and recommendations.