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

Lightfoot allies delay speed camera vote

By Dylan Sharkey

06/24/2022

The Chicago City Council blocked a vote to repeal the lower speed camera ticket threshold, responsible for $59 million in tickets last year. Mayor Lori Lightfoot now has until July 20 to save a policy that issued more tickets than Chicago has residents.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, red light cameras, speed cameras

Lightfoot fights city council effort to limit $59M speed cameras

By Patrick Andriesen

06/17/2022

Chicago aldermen were ready to repeal the lower speed camera tolerance that generated $59 million in fines last year, but the finance committee chairman called off the meeting. Mayor Lori Lightfoot will use the delay to ‘twist peoples’ arms’ and keep the threshold low and lucrative.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, speed cameras

Experts: highway camera bills on Pritzker’s desk ripe for abuse

By Patrick Andriesen

04/27/2022

Two bills on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk would spend $20 million to add license plate monitoring cameras to 6,600 miles of highways in 22 counties. Civil rights groups fret about abuse. Illinois State Police can’t say they increase safety.

TAGS: Illinois, interstate highway, speed cameras

Lightfoot reacts to record Chicago speed camera tickets with limited relief

By Patrick Andriesen

04/25/2022

Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced relief for low-income residents just weeks after an Illinois Policy Institute investigation found her lower threshold for speed camera tickets created more fines in 2021 than Chicago has residents.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, speed cameras

Illinois House passes bill to scan license plates on highways

By Dylan Sharkey

04/12/2022

The Illinois House approved a law calling for the installation of license plate reading cameras. Big Brother just wants to solve crime.

TAGS: Illinois, interstate highway, license plate recognition camera

House unanimously passes bill to let Illinois parents leave teens home alone

By Dylan Sharkey

03/03/2022

The Illinois House unanimously passed a bill to eliminate the nation’s strictest standard for how old children must be to be left home alone, now set at age 14. The bill lets parents decide when children are responsible enough to briefly be on their own.

TAGS: child abandonment, criminal justice reform, parenting