Traffic enforcement in Chicago appears to depend on who’s behind the wheel, and it’s no secret to Chicago drivers as the media and political leaders are becoming more aware of it as well.

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. The article states Chicago’s ticketing system is particularly punitive, with drivers being 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. Overall, the article paints a picture of a system that is stacked against low-income drivers, one that can have devastating consequences for those unable to pay their fines and fees.

“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 most likely to get caught in it,” the article states.

Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th Ward) read the ProPublica article and has spoken with Chicago residents who are affected by the enforcement practice.

“Definitely we have seen the issues of ticketing disproportionately affecting the Black and brown communities.” Sigcho-Lopez told Southland Marquee. “If you look at the map, I think it’s clear that this is disproportionately affecting Black and brown areas in the city. I think that there is a correlation there and it’s disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable communities.”

He said it’s not accidental.

“I know we've got people who are more and more burned by ticketing and fines and all that, and the city incorporates these on the budget,” Sigcho-Lopez said. “That’s why I voted against the budgets. One of the reasons is because all the budgets are balanced on the backs of working people, fines, fees, property taxes. A lot of it goes into the people who are already struggling." 

The 25th Ward includes parts of the Pilsen, Greektown, Chinatown, Little Village, University Village and Little Italy neighborhoods. Sigcho-Lopez was narrowly re-elected to a second term Feb. 28. He discussed traffic enforcement and how it appears to target Black and brown people during a March 17 interview with Southland Marquee.

A Chicago pastor, Tyrone McGowan, spoke about how this policy is affecting his community. McGowan told Southland Marquee it is a “regressive policy” that prevents people from working by revoking their driver’s license.

“Historically, the city of Chicago has built its economy and attempted to balance its budget off of criminalizing Black and brown bodies,” he said. “This ticket policy is just another way the City is oppressing communities of color.”

Meanwhile, 40th Ward Alderman Andre Vasquez told Southland Marquee he sees a way forward on this issue.

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

A Cook County code gives the city the ability to revoke a license over a certain amount of debt. 

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

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

Sigcho-Lopez is trying to assist ride-share drivers. He said these policies are denying people an opportunity to make a living.

“It’s completely unfair,” he said.

Sigcho-Lopez said he has talked with a coalition of drivers as well as representatives of Lyft and Uber. They are concerned about excessive tickets and fines as well as raising their pay and providing safer working conditions. Lyft and Uber say they support such reforms, but so far, it’s all talk.

“I would imagine so but I don’t know that they have done it publicly,” the alderman said. “I think they should do a lot more for it.”

A city policy under the Cook County code gives the city the right to revoke a business license if a driver does not pay or is unable to pay issued traffic tickets.

Sigcho-Lopez said he is willing to work to change these laws.

“It can be done through legislation," he said. "I am in touch with the workers and Lyft and Uber. And certainly if there’s any proposals that can help us with that legislatively, I support them and want to hear them.”

Is it a state or a city issue?

“We probably have to do both because some of the red light cameras, for instance, that goes into the state,” he said. “Locally I think fines and fees [can be lowered]. The other thing was the suspension of work permits and all of that. So some of that can be done in the city.”

Sigcho-Lopez said outgoing Mayor Lori Lightfoot was unwilling to move forward on this issue.

“Although it is an uphill battle, I’m hopeful that the new mayor and council will take it on,” he said.

Sigcho-Lopez said he supports Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, who finished second in the Feb. 28 mayoral election and faces longtime educator and former Chicago Budget Director Paul Vallas in the April 4 runoff.

In a recent interview with the Southland Marquee, Johnson said policies that strip workers’ ability to earn a living are discriminative and fuel economic inequality.

"As someone who is a part of the working class, I will be a champion for all Chicago workers, and that absolutely includes gig workers," Johnson previously told Southland Marquee. "Right now, fines and fees can essentially halt a gig worker’s ability to do their job. This only serves to exacerbate the type of economic instability that has led to the type of stratified economy that we have now, and we must come to a solution that ends this discriminatory outcome.”