City dismissed red-light camera tickets against mayor’s security detail

The city of Chicago dismissed the majority of tickets issued to Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s security detail by red-light and speed cameras, including some that were recorded at times when the mayor was scheduled to be attending non-city events, records show.

Since Lightfoot became mayor in May 2019, the police security detail assigned to her protection has received 13 tickets for speed and redlight camera violations, and 10 of those have been dismissed, records show.

Though city officials did not address specific questions about her whereabouts at the time each ticket was issued, listings in her official calendar show some were given at times when her calendar suggests she was on the way home from a personal event or en route to a “non-city breakfast.”

Fourwere issued at a time when her official calendar doesn’t note her scheduled whereabouts or indicates “rest,” and another says she was supposed to be attending a virtual gala.

A city spokeswoman defended dismissing the tickets, saying cops are allowed to run red lights under certain circumstances.

“The Chicago Police Department’s mayoral security detail is responsible for protecting the Mayor and her family at all times of the day. When traveling, this security detail is a two-car team— a lead car and a tail car — that is trained to stay together at all times for the safety and protection of the mayor,” the statement said. “Any and all red-light violations or speeding tickets dismissed by the City were done so when the tail car following the lead car became separated or in conjunction with City’s policies and practices when it comes to law enforcement vehicles.”

Most of the tickets issued to Lightfoot’s security detail from the city’s cameras are red-light violations, but records show Lightfoot’s administration dismissed three tickets against her detail where officers were going more than 11 mph over the limit.