New December 5 law will see drivers handed $250 fees for improper parking – cops don’t have to be around to catch you
A new parking ordinance that will take effect in a few days has warned drivers that they might be fined $250.
The purpose of the new rules is to combat nuisance halting on major public roads.
Chicago officials have launched a new initiative to crack down on drivers who park in bike or bus lanes.
The city’s Smart Streets plan includes the “automatic ticket” system.
To assist in enforcing the regulations, it will observe cameras mounted on buses and other government vehicles.
They will monitor the region that is bounded by Lake Michigan, Roosevelt Road, North Avenue, and Ashland Avenue.
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The cameras will scan a car’s license plate and report it to local law police if they see it parked incorrectly.
A human operator will then review the image to confirm that a violation has occurred.
This implies that police officers are not required to be on the scene in order to apprehend criminals.
The owner of the vehicle will eventually receive a $250 fine as a result of this procedure.
On November 4, monitoring got underway, and on December 5, enforcement is scheduled to begin.
However, as individuals adjust to the new system, drivers will receive written warnings for the first 30 days.
According to Alderman Walter Burnett, who supports the plan, “just one vehicle blocking these lanes can disrupt travel, create dangerous conditions, and delay commutes.”
Additionally, plans for growth are already in place; by 2025, up to six CTA buses will have the cameras installed.
The ultimate objective is to broaden the enforcement’s reach in order to apprehend unpaid drivers who stop in metered places.
The cameras might not remain in place for very long, though.
The program is currently in a two-year experimental phase, and a public consultation will determine whether it continues or not.
In November 2026, the City Council is scheduled to consider a possible expansion.
In Los Angeles, a similar arrangement is presently undergoing testing.
Numerous bus services in the Downtown and Inglewood areas are part of that scheme.
“It’s unfair that a single car obstructing a bus lane can hold up a busload of people,” stated Janice Hahn, chair of the Metro Bus board in Los Angeles.
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“Those riders have a right to get at their destinations promptly and safely.
“This new ticketing system is important, and I hope people don t take the risk and move their cars out of the bus lanes.”
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