Implementing “ability to pay” hearings and affordable payment plan terms would benefit low-income Chicago residents by allowing them to keep driving legally and avoid having their cars towed or booted.
Will you support creating a citywide process to determine a person’s ability to pay fines and fees, and adopting standards to ensure that payment plans for people who owe ticket debt must be affordable and accessible?
DOROTHY BROWN: |
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See my answer to question 8. |
GERY CHICO: |
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As with bail reform, no civil penalty should become a de facto debtors prison. I will consult with the appropriate experts and stakeholders to create a fair but sustainable policy. |
BILL DALEY:
DID NOT RESPOND.
AMARA ENYIA: |
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See Question 8 response. I also support implementing community service as a means of paying off ticket debt. |
BOB FIORETTI:
DID NOT RESPOND.
LA SHAWN FORD: |
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| Yes, if Chicago is to become the most equitable city in the country, we cannot continue to penalize people at equal rates and pretend that those penalties impact everyone equally. |
JERRY JOYCE:
DID NOT RESPOND.
JOHN KOZLAR: |
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I support this ordinance change, as indicated in question #8. |
LORI LIGHTFOOT: |
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| For the reasons discussed above, I support adopting standards to ensure that payment plans are affordable and accessible for Chicago’s most vulnerable drivers. The consequences of losing one’s license or being forced into bankruptcy based on an inability to pay fines and fees can be devastating and can significantly and adversely impact one’s quality of life and ability to seek employment. |
GARRY McCARTHY: |
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I will ensure that a person is not penalized into poverty. We’ll start by making sure there is a payment plan system that takes into account that person’s ability to pay based on their financial situation. We will work with Chicago residents, not against them. |
SUSANA MENDOZA: |
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As mayor, I will launch a top to bottom review of city fines and penalties and make reforms to reduce penalties, reduce the rate at which penalties escalate, allow for amnesties where appropriate, and work to allow payment plans for people who owe debt to the city. |
TONI PRECKWINKLE: |
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| Many residents depend on transportation by car to get to work and manage childcare situations. It would be unfair to limit individuals’ use of vehicles based on unpaid fines and fees that they are unable to pay. I would support implementing a process to determine individuals’ ability to pay fines and fees, and ensure that individuals with outstanding ticket debt have payment plans that are affordable and accessible. Similarly to my approach to ending the use of driver’s suspension for non-moving violations, I would advocate for alternatives to cash repayment like community service. |
NEAL SALES-GRIFFIN:
DID NOT RESPOND.
PAUL VALLAS: |
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As I mentioned, I will eliminate red light cameras, stop suspending drivers’ licenses and cap fines so that they do not exceed the cost of the original license, vehicle sticker or ticket. These I will do unilaterally. I will then call for a standing committee to address the aforementioned issues and to develop an ability to pay plan. |
WILLIE WILSON:
DID NOT RESPOND.
