Chicago parking ticket · MCC 9-102
Red-Light Cameraticket in Chicago: cost & how to fight it
A red-light camera ticket is a camera citation for entering an intersection after the light turned red.
How to fight a red-light camera ticket
The photos and video must clearly show the vehicle crossing the stop line after the signal turned red, with the plate legible. Faded lane markings, a right-on-red rolling stop, or an obscured plate are common grounds.
You can contest any Chicago parking ticket in one of three ways: by mail, online through the City's portal, or in person at an administrative hearing. Contesting by mail is how Autopilot does it — and across the City's own 2023–2025 hearing data, mailed red-light camera contests were dismissed 28% of the time.
Let Autopilot fight it for you
Autopilot watches your plate, catches a red-light camera ticket within days of it posting, builds the appeal with the right evidence attached, and mails it — before the fine has a chance to double. It also alerts you before street cleaning, snow bans, and permit/meter enforcement on your block so the next one never happens.
Get started →Red-Light Camera ticket FAQ
How much is a red-light camera ticket in Chicago?
A red-light camera ticket under MCC 9-102 is $100. If it isn't paid or contested in time, the fine doubles to $200 — a $100 late penalty.
Can you fight a red-light camera ticket in Chicago?
Yes. You can contest it by mail or online. The photos and video must clearly show the vehicle crossing the stop line after the signal turned red, with the plate legible. Faded lane markings, a right-on-red rolling stop, or an obscured plate are common grounds. Across mailed, decided cases from 2023–2025, 28% of red-light camera contests were found Not Liable (15,569 decided cases).
What happens if I ignore a red-light camera ticket?
The $100 fine doubles to $200. Unpaid tickets can lead to license-plate holds and, after enough debt, a vehicle boot.
Other Chicago ticket types
Fines from the City of Chicago fine schedule (MCC 9-102). Dismissal rate is mail-only, decided cases (Not Liable ÷ decided), tickets issued 2023–2025, from Department of Finance / DOAH records obtained by FOIA. Not legal advice.