When John Sotiropoulos, 64, was caught driving five to six miles over the speed limit a few times in Chicago, he mailed in $120 to cover the cost of what he thought was $30 per moving violation.
Sotiropoulos, a ride-hailing services driver who previously owned a limo company, was surprised to learn in June that he actually owes $1,500.
“They said there were some other tickets from three years ago,” he told Southland Marquee. “I don't even know what they're talking about.”
Sotiropoulos’ recent tickets are among the more than 3 million automated traffic camera violations issued each year by the city of Chicago, according to ProPublica Illinois.
“They have those hidden cameras,” he said. “You cannot see them. I had some rides going down in Chicago and that's how I got them.”
The cost of a citation can range from $25 for broken headlights to $250 for drivers who curb their cars in disability parking spaces without the proper credentials.
“Once I noticed they were clocking me, I stopped going that route,” Sotiropoulos recounted.
ProPublica Illinois further reported that drivers in and around Chicago owe some $1.45 billion collectively in ticket debt since September 1990. However, the city’s low-income, mostly black neighborhoods, are disproportionately impacted.
In 2007, ProPublica data analysis shows that the most accumulated ticket debt per adult is in eight of the 10 majority-black Illinois zip codes.
“They’re going after everybody for money,” Sotiropoulos told the Southland Marquee. “Chicago has been known for wasting money. They are collecting money from everywhere, they just don't know how to spend it correctly.”
Although it’s been widely reported that the city of Chicago mails notices to car owners with deadlines for when they can pay or appeal the moving violations, over time the money owned mounts due to interest or collections efforts if not paid in a timely manner.
In Sotiropoulos’s case, he learned that the payment he’d made was not enough through his ride-hailing companies.
“They sent me an email, both Uber and Lyft, and told me they have an agreement signed with the city of Chicago,” he said. “The people who owe money to the city have to pay the debts first in order to drive in Chicago. That’s what Uber is telling me.”
The Cook County Code of Ordinances Sec. 54-391 states that the license of any person who has failed to pay any fine, assessment of costs or other sums of money owed to the county shall be suspended until such time that the fine, assessment of costs or other sums of money has been fully paid.
“I called the other day and they told me that I had some tickets in Chicago from three years ago so I guess they stay forever in their system,” Sotiropoulos added. “I don't know what to do.”
As previously reported by National Public Radio, deactivating gig workers, primarily ride-hailing drivers, for their unpaid ticket debts, is unique to Chicago. Some 15,500 Lyft and Uber drivers were suspended in 2019 under the city's policy and data analysis by WBEZ determined that those ride-hailing suspensions have disproportionately impacted Chicago’s majority black and low-income neighborhoods the most.
Sotiropoulos is considering retiring, leaving Illinois, or driving in a nearby state like Wisconsin rather than pay the money Chicago says he owes, but other drivers are filing for bankruptcy, according to ProPublica Illinois.
Some 1,000 Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings were for unpaid tickets in 2007 and the average debt to the city of Chicago was $1,500. As of last year, there were over 10,000 Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings with an average debt of some $3,900. From 2007 to 2021, the city of Chicago increased the cost of ticket fines, license suspensions and advanced the traffic camera program.
“I'm not doing anything right now,” he said. “I have a little money on the side. I’m taking it easy until I figure out what I am going to do.”
Prior to being canceled, the Palatine resident was earning $80 to $100 a day, driving five days a week.
“It was a nice little retirement job so that I didn’t have to dip into my savings,” Sotiropoulos said.
Special note from the Southland Marquee: This story is part of a collection highlighting how Cook County and City of Chicago policy affect freelancers, small business owners, and ride-share drivers.