Chicago is set to launch 16 new speed cameras on June 1, with motorists particularly on the North Side facing the risk of unexpected tickets.
These cameras are concluding a 30-day warning period, followed by a two-week blackout phase intended to deliver notices to drivers.
Historically, new speed cameras tend to generate a surge in citations during their initial days as drivers adjust their behavior. An analysis conducted by the Chicago Sun-Times/WBEZ highlights that over the past four years, most new cameras have penalized motorists more severely during their first couple of months of operation.
One notable installation is located at 4716 N. Ashland Ave., featuring a distinct black color and a smaller profile than the familiar gray cameras.
This camera, positioned on a light pole across from Chase Park, has been actively flashing recently as speeding drivers pass by.
Chris Wood, a local resident caring for a sick child, expressed hope that the new cameras would prompt drivers to slow down, thus preventing potential accidents.
Wood noted a concerning pattern of drivers speeding more often during nighttime hours when traffic is light, making the situation even scarier for neighborhood residents.
He himself has received several warnings from a different camera down Ashland, near Lake View High School, indicating that the issue of speeding is widespread.
The analysis reveals that newer speed cameras in Chicago commonly issue a higher number of tickets during their first months of operation.
In fact, a camera installed in Beverly at 10540 S. Western Ave. started ticketing in late May 2024, recording nearly 24,000 citations in just its first 30 days.
However, ticketing significantly declined within just five months, dropping to around 11,249 citations during the same timeframe.
This particular camera had an impressive total of 116,393 violations through the end of November 2024, making it the highest ticketing camera in the city for that year.
Another camera, activated at 901 N. Clark St. in late March 2023, also witnessed a drop in ticket numbers — from 13,755 in its inaugural month to approximately 5,400 tickets four months later.
As the new speed cameras activate, drivers can anticipate a higher-than-usual volume of tickets in the initial days of enforcement.
The locations of the newly installed cameras include several parks and schools, such as Bickerdike Square Park (1455 W. Grand Ave.), Lorenz Brentano Elementary School (2716 W. Logan Blvd.), and Mahalia Jackson High School (8740 S. Vincennes St.), among others.
These camera installations are part of a broader initiative by Mayor Brandon Johnson, who pledged to install 50 speed cameras to help generate $11.4 million for the city budget in 2025 after a proposal to raise property taxes was rejected.
Stacey Sutton, an associate professor of urban planning and policy at the University of Illinois Chicago, argues that the primary focus of these cameras should be the enhancement of public safety rather than financial gains.
In Sutton’s 2022 research, she found that speed camera tickets disproportionately affect Black and Latino communities but noted that speed cameras can result in a 15% decline in fatal and injury crashes.
However, she also highlighted cases where certain cameras caused increases in crashes, underscoring the need for careful analysis of safety data.
The Chicago Department of Transportation asserts that the selection of the new camera locations was based on a data-driven approach that utilized crash data and stakeholder feedback to identify areas with traffic safety issues.
Sutton recommends exploring alternative road safety measures that do not generate revenue, like speed bumps and lane narrowing tactics, which have shown efficacy in decreasing vehicle speeds.
Advocacy group Bike Lane Uprising supports the implementation of these cameras as an important tool for promoting slower driving in neighborhoods.
According to Christina Whitehouse of the group, the severe consequences of speeding are highlighted by the lives lost as a result of reckless driving.
Speed enforcement near schools is active from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays when children are present, with a reduced speed limit of 20 mph.
Outside of school hours, the posted speed limits apply.
Cameras situated near parks will start issuing warnings and tickets during park operating hours, typically from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.
Fines for speeding violations will be $35 for speeds exceeding the limit by 6 to 10 mph and $100 for speeds of 11 mph or more over the limit.
In addition to the 16 new cameras, seven additional cameras began issuing warnings on May 1 and will commence ticketing on June 15.
These cameras are located at Park 559 (6146 N. Sheridan Road), Hirsch Metropolitan High School (7733 S. Cottage Grove Ave.), and other select parks.
Lastly, four more cameras began issuing warnings on May 15, with ticketing set to begin on June 30, affecting areas including Perspectives High School (49 W. 85th St.) and Lincoln Park (1635 N. LaSalle Dr.).
As Chicago’s speed camera initiative progresses, residents are urged to remain vigilant and adjust their driving habits to ensure safety in their neighborhoods.
image source from：https://chicago.suntimes.com/transportation/2025/05/27/speed-camera-tickets-warnings-drivers-violation-appeal-schools-north-side-june
