Pastor Lisa Benjamin, the apostle and pastor of the Living to Live Again Family Worship Center in the South Suburban community of Hazel Crest, is speaking out against what she considers Chicago's unfair ticketing and licensing policy and how it hurts minority families by, in some cases, stripping them of their ability to earn a living.

"I do hear a lot of people complaining about [it]," Benjamin said, adding that people of color believe they "don't have as many privileges" as other ethnic groups.

"It's been a big problem. You try to go to work, you get a speeding ticket," Benjamin said, adding that some people get their cars booted for unpaid tickets. 

"That is going to prevent you from working to take care of your family, paying your rent," she said. "It's a big issue."

According to a 2018 ProPublica Illinois report, Chicago's practice of issuing tickets for small infractions has resulted in thousands of low-income drivers being saddled with unmanageable debt, leading some to declare bankruptcy. 

According to the article, Chicago's ticketing system is particularly punitive with drivers issued tickets for minor infractions such as expired vehicle registration and failure to signal a turn. In addition, the city has a high number of "relocation tows," where vehicles are towed to an impoundment lot, resulting in additional fees and fines for drivers.

Low-income drivers are particularly vulnerable to this system, as they are less likely to be able to afford the fines and fees associated with tickets, and may not have access to reliable transportation without their vehicles, according to ProPublica. 

As a result, many low-income drivers end up in a cycle of debt, with their fines and fees accruing interest and late fees, making it nearly impossible to pay off their debt. Bankruptcy can be a way for drivers to discharge their debt and start over, but it also has long-term consequences, including damage to credit scores and difficulty accessing credit in the future.

Overall, the ProPublica article paints a picture of a system that is stacked against low-income drivers, and that can have devastating consequences for those who are unable to pay their fines and fees. 

The article notes, "For many in Chicago, the city’s ticketing system is a form of regressive taxation that amounts to a financial trap, with the poorest residents the most likely to get caught in it."

Speaking on the ticketing issue, Chicago Alderman Andre Vasquez told the Southland Marquee, "Our office has always been more supportive of graduated fines and fees, where the costs are determined by the annual income of the person who has committed the infraction. 

"In a time where we have seen more collisions, road rage incidents and deaths by vehicle, it makes sense to have accountability," he said. "But it is also fair to have a graduated system because flat fees impact different people differently based on the their income." 

A Cook County code gives the city the ability to revoke an individual's business license over a certain amount of debt.  

Reports by Flexible Work News also show that this policy has affected gig workers, such as Uber and Lyft drivers, who are removed from the platform and have their business licenses suspended.

One driver said, “I don't think they should stop people from driving because of tickets. It’s holding back a lot of people. Uber wasn't able to resolve my problem. It's not an Uber issue. It’s a city issue.”

Pastor Benjamin believes the city's ticketing policy is disproportionately hurting Black and Brown communities. 

"It's a major issue because if your car is impounded, how can you get to work?" she said. "If you work 20 or 30 miles away, the bus system is not going to get you there on time."  

Benjamin said the policy "doesn't make any sense," and, instead, city officials should put more police on the street to stem the violence as opposed to ticketing people and preventing them from making a living. She added that all cameras should be removed.