CHICAGO – Beginning Jan. 1, the city of Chicago will be prohibited from requiring police officers to fulfill specific ticket quotas as legislation sponsored by state Rep. Fran Hurley, D-Chicago, takes effect.
“Ticket quotas aren’t making our community safer, they’re simply intended to generate revenue for the city while placing a burden on the men and women we count on to keep our families safe,” said Hurley. “When officers’ time is dedicated to tallying up parking and vehicle-compliance tickets at the end of the month, it takes away from their primary responsibility to keep our communities safe.”
Under current law, Illinois municipalities, with the exception of the city of Chicago, are prohibited from implementing ticket quotas on local police departments and evaluating officers based on the number of tickets they issue. Hurley’s Senate Bill 3509 removes Chicago’s exemption from the ticket quota ban, a move Hurley believes will allow for the dedication of law enforcement resources to where they are most needed.
“Our police force works hard to protect public safety, and ticket quotas do not accurately measure their job performance,” said Hurley. “The removal of these burdensome requirements will increase officer discretion to effectively protect and serve the residents of Chicago.”