The Chicago City Council debated about the city's red light cameras today, but the end result looks to not be pointing to relief for city drivers -- or more accurately, car owners. Instead, that dreaded violation that magically appears in your mailbox could cost $25 - $75 more. more ›

Unless you're interested in playing "Dude, Where's My Car: The Home Game," you drivers out there need to be aware of the fact that Chicago's winter overnight parking ban goes into effect in the wee hours tonight along many of the city's main thoroughfares. The parking ban starts at 3 a.m. every December 1st, and goes through April 1st. This is different than the parking ban when there is over 2 inches of snow -- this ban dictates no parking at all between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m., regardless of if it's a freaky 70 degree day in January or not. more ›

There's one thing many of Chicago's drivers will find positive from the latest city budget shortfalls -- the Chicago Department of Transportation has stopped installing the loathed red light cameras around the city for now because there's simply no cash to buy new ones. But that doesn't mean you can count on the main intersection near you to remain red light camera free -- the city is shuffling around their camera locations and will move 20 of the current 189 cameras elsewhere, as supposedly deemed necessary by which ones would "have the most positive effect on traffic safety." more ›

South Side Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) recently introduced an ordinance that would mandate countdown signals - like the ones for pedestrian walk signals - at intersections where red-light cameras have been (or will be) installed. more ›

Chicago continues on with its business model of raising fines to raise revenue, this time targeting Alderman Tom Tunney's favorite law, the city's cell phone ban. Effective Saturday, February 21, the price of a ticket increases $25 to $100, and if you cause an accident because of your jibber jabber on the phone you'll be coughing up $500. But will the fine increase do anything to get people to put down the cell and put both hands on the wheel? Traffic Committee Chairman Pat O'Connor seems to think so: more ›

The Expired Meter speculates that it will be at least March if not April before all the meters are changed. Finally, one time that we don't mind municipal work happening slowly around here. Take your time, boys! more ›

Don't forget, as part of Mayor Daley's attempt to sell off every one of Chicago's assets to fix its budget "crisis", the city sold off its parking meters which resulted in the loss of all "parking meter holidays". So if you're parked at a metered spot today, you had better dip into the laundry money and pump quarters into that meter or you're going to start your new year with a parking ticket. more ›

Redflex lobbyists include former Chicago Ald. Mark Fary (12th), husband of O'Hare expansion chief Rosemarie Andolino, and William Griffin, a friend of Mayor Daley and Finance Committee Chairman Edward M. Burke (14th).