Chicago, IL Mobility & Curb Rules: Red-Light Cameras (2026)
Key Facts
- Red-light camera fine
- $100 flat
- Speed fine, 6-10 mph over
- $35
- Speed fine, 11+ mph over
- $100
- School-zone camera hours
- 7 a.m.-7 p.m., school days
- Liable party
- registered vehicle owner
Summary
Cameras at intersections and school/park safety zones ticket red-light runners and speeders under Municipal Code Chapters 9-101 and 9-102, with fines set by Section 9-100-020(d).
The registered owner of record of a vehicle is liable for a violation of this section and the fine set forth in Section 9-100-020 when the vehicle is used in violation of Section 9-8-020(c) and a recorded image of the violation is recorded by an automated traffic law enforcement system.
(b) The provisions of this section do not apply to any authorized emergency vehicle or where the technician inspecting the recorded image determines that the vehicle was lawfully participating in a funeral procession, or that the vehicle entered into the intersection in order to yield the right- of-way to an emergency vehicle.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the liability of an operator of a vehicle for any violation of Section
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-74: Current through Council Journal of June 17, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Chicago runs both an Automated Traffic Law Enforcement System (red-light cameras) and an Automated Speed Enforcement System (school- and park-zone speed cameras), administered by the Department of Transportation and enforced through the Department of Administrative Hearings. A red-light violation under MCC § 9-102-020 draws a flat $100 fine. Speed cameras under § 9-101-020 operate only in safety zones tied to schools (school days, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.) or parks (open hours), and only catch drivers going 6+ mph over the limit: $35 for 6-10 mph over, $100 for 11 mph or more over. First-time violators get a warning notice instead of a fine under §§ 9-100-045 and 9-101-030, and citation decisions stay with the City, not the camera vendor.
Violations & Fines
Registered owner is liable regardless of who was driving: $100 flat fine for a red-light camera hit (§ 9-102-020); speed camera fines are $35 (6-10 mph over) or $100 (11+ mph over), per § 9-100-020(d).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who gets the ticket: the driver or the owner?
Do I get a warning before a speed camera fine?
Does a citation require a human to review the photo?
Sources & Official References
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