Chicago speed cameras generate $64.2 million in annual revenue

An analysis by the Illinois Policy Institute reveals that Chicago’s speed cameras issued a ticket approximately every 48 seconds in 2025. The city generated $64.2 million in revenue from these cameras last year, representing a 25.7% increase from the $59.6 million collected in 2024.

Following the addition of 50 new speed cameras, critics including Alderman Anthony Beale and Illinois Policy Institute’s Dylan Sharkey have characterized the program as a revenue-generating ‘cash grab’ rather than a safety measure. Sharkey noted that 80% of tickets are issued to drivers exceeding the speed limit by only six to 10 miles per hour.

City officials face significant fiscal challenges, with Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office projecting deficits of $85.1 million this year and $882.4 million for 2027. Since 2016, Chicago’s speed cameras have generated more than $630 million and issued over 4.2 million tickets.