Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-IL) has sparked a controversy over Chicago’s red-light cameras, claiming that they unfairly target Black drivers in the city’s South Side. Ford’s call for an investigation into the system has centered around data showing that cameras in predominantly Black neighborhoods issue more tickets than those in other parts of the city.
However, experts argue that the focus on race misses the point — red-light cameras are designed to catch violations, and the higher ticket numbers likely reflect traffic patterns rather than racial bias.
According to data from the Illinois Policy Institute, South Side cameras issued an average of 9,132 tickets, totaling $61.4 million in fines, while the North Side cameras issued fewer tickets, about 5,521. Ford’s criticism suggests that Black residents are being unfairly penalized, but the data tells a different story. Traffic cameras are objective and simply record violations when they happen, regardless of the driver’s race.
The high ticket numbers in the South Side could be attributed to factors other than race. Heavier traffic and more complex intersections in these areas could lead to more violations. The cameras are catching more drivers running red lights simply because those are the conditions on the ground, not because of a built-in racial bias.
While Ford raises valid concerns about the financial strain these tickets impose on low-income families, the focus on race diverts attention from the real issue — whether the red-light camera system is working as intended. Rather than targeting specific groups, the cameras serve as a tool for increasing safety and discouraging dangerous driving. That’s the key point that should be under discussion.
Critics of the system argue that it can unfairly burden lower-income communities, where people are less likely to afford the fines and penalties associated with multiple violations. However, these concerns should not be conflated with allegations of racism. The reality is that traffic cameras catch violations wherever they occur, and that’s what the data reflects.
With over $915 million generated from tickets since 2008, Chicago’s traffic cameras are a significant revenue generator. But instead of focusing on accusations of racial bias, the city should focus on improving the system’s transparency and ensuring it benefits all communities fairly, regardless of income or race.
