Source: Alderman Reilly Reports 8/6/2021
Alderman Reilly is extremely frustrated with the large groups of motorcycles and drag racers who continue to disrupt quality-of-life for 42nd Ward residents, and the lack of enforcement of Municipal Code and State of Illinois Vehicle Code Statutes.
The Alderman is pleased to announce he has co-sponsored a City Council Resolution (R2021-787) calling for the Committee on Public Safety to hold public hearings with the Chicago Police Department, Deputy Mayor of Public Safety, and Chicago Department of Transportation to discuss dangerous drag racing and drifting and motorcycle noise.
The City Council Resolution was introduced at the Council meeting held on Wednesday, July 21. Please click here to be directed to the Council Resolution.
Since the Alderman took office, he has been committed to combatting motorcycle noise and dangerous drag racing and drifting, and has taken a number of steps to amend Chicago Municipal Code as well as local infrastructure to deter drag racing.
In 2014, Alderman Reilly secured City Council approval for his Altered Motorcycle Muffler Ordinance, which amended Municipal Code to allow the Chicago Police Department to issue citations for altered mufflers without cooperation and coordination with the Illinois State Police. In addition to improving the CPD’s ability to enforce Municipal Code, the amendment increased the fines for operating a motorcycle without a muffler from $100 to $1,000 per incident.
On July 24, 2019, Alderman Reilly secured City Council approval for his Drag Racing and Drifting Ordinance (O219-3944), which increases the fine for drag racing and drifting to no less than $5,000 and no more than $10,000 for each offense. The ordinance also establishes a $500 fine for operating a motor vehicle with an altered muffler within the City of Chicago.
In April 2021, the Alderman and several colleagues secured City Council approval for a new ordinance (O2021-363) which adds several issues to the list of Code violations punishable by impoundment of a vehicle. This new ordinance allows the Chicago Police Department to impound vehicles for the following offenses:
Throughout his tenure as 42nd Ward Alderman, Alderman Reilly has used the Aldermanic Menu to fund the installation of speed humps, curb extension, jersey barriers, and Police Department cameras to prevent dangerous drag racing and drifting. Additionally, the Alderman established a “No Cruising Zone” and late-night “No Parking/No Standing/No Stopping Tow Zone” along Lower Lower Wacker Drive, between Stetson and Field Boulevard.
If you witness dangerous driving or vehicles violating the noise ordinance, please call 9-1-1 in real-time.
Stay tuned to Reilly Reports for updates regarding the Council Resolution calling for public hearings with the Chicago Police Department, Deputy Mayor of Public Safety, and Chicago Department of Transportation to discuss dangerous drag racing and drifting and motorcycle noise.
