SAFE-T Act’s end to cash bail paused by Illinois Supreme Court

By Patrick Andriesen

01/02/2023

The Illinois Supreme Court stayed a provision of the SAFE-T Act set to take effect Jan. 1 that would have eliminated cash bail statewide after a county judge ruled it would violate the state constitution. The high court said it planned an “expedited” review.

TAGS: SAFE-T Act

Pritzker signs SAFE-T Act trailer amendment with 5 reforms

By Patrick Andriesen

12/08/2022

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the fourth trailer amendment to the SAFE-T Act Dec. 6. Experts predict the changes will not stop a constitutional challenge from 62 state’s attorneys.

TAGS: SAFE-T Act

3 things you need to know about latest SAFE-T Act changes

By Joe Tabor

12/01/2022

Lawmakers are set to consider an amendment to the controversial criminal justice reform law set to take effect on Jan. 1. Here are three things Illinoisans should know about the proposed changes.

TAGS: SAFE-T Act

Amendment 1 could let Illinois police unions undo SAFE-T Act mandates

By Mailee Smith

11/23/2022

Illinois’ new union amendment allows government unions to negotiate over virtually anything and override state law through their union contracts. That includes laws aimed at reforming police procedures.

TAGS: police union, SAFE-T Act

Everything Illinoisans need to know about the SAFE-T Act

By Joe Tabor, Perry Zhao

11/18/2022

The omnibus criminal justice reform bill became highly politicized in the November elections, mixing fact and fiction. There are problems with the bill, but state lawmakers can fix them before the SAFE-T Act takes effect in January.

TAGS: SAFE-T Act

Chicago issues over 1M parking tickets in 6 months

By Patrick Andriesen

10/11/2022

Three years after Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot campaigned on a pledge to reduce fines and fees, the city issued over 1 million parking tickets in the first half of 2022 – a 25% bump from the same period a year earlier.

TAGS: Chicago, speed cameras

Pritzker’s Texas disaster declaration comes as pandemic disaster expires

By Dylan Sharkey

09/15/2022

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a disaster declaration because over 500 immigrants were bused to Chicago by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. This disaster is atop the pandemic disaster he is expected to renew for the 34th time.

TAGS: emergency powers, JB Pritzker

Chicago aldermen fail to repeal Lightfoot’s $80-million speed camera policy

By Patrick Andriesen

07/20/2022

Chicago aldermen lacked the votes to repeal Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s lower speed camera ticketing threshold responsible for nearly $80 million in fines.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, speed cameras

Chicago speed cameras ticket 3.8 million drivers since Lightfoot cut limits

By Patrick Andriesen

07/19/2022

Chicago’s speed cameras issued 3.8 million tickets since Mayor Lori Lightfoot lowered the threshold before a citation is written. That is like everyone in Chicago getting 1.4 tickets in 16 months.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, speed cameras

1M Chicago speed camera tickets fail to stop record traffic deaths

By Patrick Andriesen

07/18/2022

Chicago reported more traffic deaths in the first six months of 2022 than in any year since 2017, despite speed cameras issuing over 1 million tickets – as many tickets as Chicago has households. Two-thirds of the fines were for speeding 6-10 mph.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, speed cameras, ticketing