Media Archives - Fines and Fees Justice Center

Chicago Speed Cameras Fines Motorists over $102 million on 2023

In 2013, Chicago began issuing fines to motorists captured driving in excess of the speed limit. Since then, speed cameras have generated $879 million for the city, sending 9,132,409 tickets …

If You Can’t Afford an Attorney, One Will Be Appointed. And You May Get a Huge Bill

Although the majority of states try to recoup counsel fees for indigent defenders, Iowa charges some of the highest fees. Even in cases where individuals are acquitted, or charges are …

This Louisiana Town Runs Largely on Traffic Fines. If You Fight Your Ticket, the Mayor Is Your Judge.

A Louisiana town that covers 20 blocks with only 226 residents has garnered national attention for its predatory reliance on fines and forfeitures. To make matters worse, Fenton is home …

Court Debt Collection Service Subject to Controversy

Debt collection agencies are prohibited by federal law from threatening arrest because of non-payment. In Oklahoma, seven plaintiffs in a class-action suit are challenging the debt collection practices of Aberdeen …

The Fee Trap: Why Alabama’s Local Governments Can’t Shake Fines and Charges

Local governments in Alabama, constrained by the state’s constitutional limits on raising taxes, impose fees and general charges to fund services. As a result, lower-income people pay a more significant …

Why Automated Speed Cameras Disproportionately Affect Black and Brown Drivers

Automated traffic enforcement is active in nearly 200 communities nationwide. In Chicago, Illinois, speed cameras have been in place since 2013. In 2023, the city generated an extra $120 million …

Litigation Victory Signals End to California Courts’ Illegal Late Fees That Penalized Poverty for Profit – $550 Million to $1 Billion Erased

For years, California courts have burdened low-income people with unlawful civil assessments. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, ACLU Foundation of Northern California, and …