Chicago Speed Cameras by Neighborhood

Which Neighborhoods Have the Most?

Between 2014 and 2018, the City of Chicago had 161 speed cameras installed in the city’s neighborhoods. Upon analysis, there was a clear disparity in the distribution of the speed cameras, and the number of cameras in each neighborhood. Looking at the South East side of the city, which includes neighborhoods such as South Deering, Pullman, and South Chicago, there were only eight speed cameras installed in the 5-year time frame. Those cameras were only present in four out of the 12 neighborhoods: Calumet Heights, East Side, Roseland, and West Pullman. Central Chicago (Loop, Near North Side, Near Side) also had a small number of speed cameras that were concentrated in the same areas. Areas like the far North Side, the North Side, the West Side and the South West Side all had a higher number of speed cameras in more neighborhoods. On the West Side, there were 35 cameras installed in eight neighborhoods, leaving one neighborhood in the area without any cameras (Little Village). The Far North Side had 20 cameras in nine neighborhoods, the North Side had 13 cameras in four neighborhoods, and the South West Side had 27 cameras in seven neighborhoods.

In February 2021, it was announced that stricter speed camera rules would be enforced starting in March. Anyone going at least 6 miles per hour over the speed limit would be ticketed by a camera, with fines starting at $35. These new rules are an attempt to compensate for Chicago’s financial losses as well as decrease traffic accidents, as reported by NBC Chicago. According to Illinois Policy, there was a 45% increase in traffic related deaths in 2020 putting the number of fatalities at 139. It is predicted that these cameras will bring in nearly $100 million for the city of Chicago, with 1 ticket being written every 12 seconds. Although the map above is slightly outdated, it can still give a general idea as to which areas and which neighborhoods could possibly be contributing the most to speeding ticket revenue from speed cameras.