Opportunity to Request Hearing to Review Red Light and Speed Camera Liability is Now Closed

Approximately 1.2 million vehicle owners received notification from the City of Chicago in early January 2017 informing them of the opportunity to request a review of certain red light or speed camera violations issued between March 23, 2010 and May 10, 2015. Vehicle owners that received a red light or speed camera violation during that time and did not contest the violation at that time through the City’s Administrative Hearing Process were eligible.

Vehicle owners had until February 19, 2017, to request a review hearing for these violations. Due to the volume of requests for hearings, it will take several months for the City to process requests for in-person hearings and issue decisions for written hearings. All vehicle owners that filled a timely hearing request will receive written notification from the City in the coming months regarding their in-person hearing date or written hearing outcome.

Any hearing request submitted after February 19, 2017 – unless postmarked on or before February 19 – will not be reviewed.

The following provides answers to frequently asked questions related to the program.

1. Why did the City provide vehicle owners this opportunity to contest these violations?

Vehicle owners, who received a red light or speed camera violation between March 23, 2010 and May 10, 2015 and did not contest the violation through the City's Administrative Hearing Process, were afforded an additional opportunity to challenge the violation under an ordinance passed in summer 2016.

2. I did not submit a request to contest my violation, but I want to contest my violation, what can I do?

The opportunity to request a review hearing or submit written evidence to contest a violation has passed. All review hearing requests were due on or before February 19; any request submitted after February 19, 2017, will not be reviewed.

If you receive a Confirmation of Liability from the City, but did not receive a Camera Violation Review Notice, you may file a Petition to Set Aside at any of the City’s administrative hearing facilities. Detailed instructions and deadlines for filing a Petition to Set Aside are printed on the back side of the Confirmation of Liability.

3. I did not submit a request to contest my violation, what is next?

You will receive a notice in the mail in the coming months indicating that you remain liable for the violation(s) and are responsible to pay the violation(s) and any other associated interest or penalties. You may be eligible to be a part of the City’s debt relief program, which waives all penalties and interest associated with these violations if paid in full within 30 days of receiving the Confirmation of Liability notice. See answer 9, below, for further details on the debt relief program.

If the violation(s) was previously paid in full, no further action is required.

4. I requested an in-person hearing, when will I be notified of my hearing date?

Due to the volume of requests received, vehicle owners who submitted a request to contest violations in-person will receive written notification scheduling an in-person hearing in the next several months. Hearings are being scheduled over a period of several months to minimize wait time at the City’s hearing facilities.

5. Where will the in-person hearings be held?

In-person hearings will be available at any of the City’s three administrative hearing facilities. Hearing facility locations and hours will be listed on the notice of in-person hearing, which will be mailed to you in the coming months.

6. I submitted a written challenge to my violations, when will I be notified whether I’ve been found liable or not liable?

Each written challenge will be reviewed by an independent administrative law judge. Due to the volume of written challenges received, it may take several months for a written hearing decision to be issued.

7. Who is reviewing the violation challenges?

All challenges are reviewed by independent administrative law judges, who will review the City's photo or video evidence and any evidence or arguments you present, to determine if liability was properly imposed in your case. Links to review the City’s photo and/or video evidence are found in the left column at the top of this page.

8. What defenses to the violation do I have?

Under Illinois law and city ordinance, you may raise certain defenses to challenge your liability for a violation. These are listed on the back of the notice you received.

The Chicago Municipal Code provides the following grounds to contest the violation:

For either a RED LIGHT VIOLATION or a SPEED VIOLATION:

• The violation occurred at any time during which the vehicle or its state registration plates were reported to a law enforcement agency as having been stolen and the vehicle or its plates had not been recovered by the owner at the time of the alleged violation.
• The vehicle was leased to another, and, within 60 days after the notice was mailed to the owner, the owner submitted to the Department of Finance the correct name and address of the lessee of the vehicle identified in the notice at the time of the violation.
• The vehicle was an authorized emergency vehicle.
• The respondent was not the registered owner or lessee of the cited vehicle at the time of the violation.

For a RED LIGHT VIOLATION only:

• The operator of the vehicle was issued a Uniform Traffic Citation for a violation of Section 9-8-020(c).
• The operator of the vehicle passed through the intersection either to yield the right-of-way to an emergency vehicle or as part of a funeral procession.
• The facts alleged in the violation notice are inconsistent or do not support a finding that Section 9-8-020(c) was violated.

For a SPEED VIOLATION only:

• The operator of the vehicle was issued a Uniform Traffic Citation for a speeding violation occurring within one-eighth of a mile and 15 minutes of the violation that was recorded by the system.
• The facts alleged in the violation notice are inconsistent or do not support a finding that Section 9-12-070, 9-12-075 or 9-12-077 of the Municipal Code of Chicago was violated.
• The facts alleged in the violation notice are inconsistent or do not support a finding that Section 9-101-020 of the Municipal Code of Chicago was violated.
• If you requested an in-person hearing, you must appear in person for your hearing and must bring any evidence you wish to submit

9. What is the City's debt relief program?

The City is waiving previously-unpaid penalties and collection fees for red light camera and speed camera tickets that were part of the Camera Violation Review Program. Eligible tickets must have been confirmed liable by the City’s administrative process. In order to participate, vehicle owners must pay the eligible tickets in full within 30 days of receiving the Confirmation of Liability notice or written hearing decision. For more information, please review the Camera Violation Review Debt Relief Program document.