Another reason to flee Chicago: Warning tickets from speeding cameras begin today for driving over 6 mph, fines coming soon

Chicago's South Side

As I've mentioned before, Chicago's failed mayor, Lori Lightfoot, during the 2019 campaign vowed to aggressively roll back the aggressive issuing of fines for parking and driving violations, which during that campaign she said, "I grew up in a family that lived paycheck to paycheck, so I understand on a personal level how regressive fines and fees disproportionately impact Chicagoans who are already struggling to make ends meet." She contiuned, "Chicagoans deserve a mayor who will stand up on this issue. We cannot balance the city budget on the backs of those least able to bear that burden." 

Beginning today drivers in Chicago who are caught driving only 6 miles-per-hour over the speed limit will receive a warning. The prior threshold was 10 mph. On March 1 the 6-10 mph crowd will receive a $35 ticket. Those motorists caught on camera will continue to receive a $100 fine. Later in that '19 presser Mayor Beetlejuice promised to "sunset" Chicago's omnipresent red light cameras, stating that the fines issued from those red light violations "fall disproportionately on people of color." Where is that sunset? 

Even before the COVID-19 epidemic and this summers rounds of rioting and looting--oops, make that "unrest"--Chicago's population was declining. Lightfoot, while violating a campaign promise, just gave Chicagoans another reason to race for the exit ramp from Chicago.