Bus Drivers Get Ticket, Taxpayers Get Hosed

By Matt Motyka in News on Jan 26, 2009 10:00PM

Until recently, CTA drivers caught running red lights had to pay their own traffic citations. Thanks to a new policy, they are no longer financially liable for their violations. Instead, the Transit Authority will pick up the tab for their drivers' fines, which in turn can be paid with public funds. Good news if you drive a city bus, bad news for your average taxpayer. CTA spokeswoman Noelle Gaffney pseudo-explains that the new policy was implemented "due to objections from the union and the CTA's wish to streamline a cumbersome process to strengthen enforcement." Strengthened enforcement that no longer includes traffic tickets for running lights, apparently.

While we understand cutting the bus drivers some slack (driving those behemoths in city traffic has to be stressful), why not just waive the fines for CTA vehicles instead of passing the buck to the public? We're already preparing a pessimistic future post, "State Grants Revenue Sharing for CTA Drivers, Encourages Rolling Stops.”

Photo by fringehog