SPD set to begin car repair voucher program to avoid ticket handouts

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS — The Springfield Police Department is preparing to offer car repair vouchers to motorists who are pulled over for traffic violations such as broken taillights.

Ken Page from the Springfield branch of the American Civil Liberties Union told me SPD decided to take part in the voucher program after reviewing Springfield traffic stop data.

The voucher program is known as “Lights On,” and will also aim to address racial disparities within traffic stops.

Data from the Illinois Department of Transportation shows Black motorists were 5.7 times more likely to be pulled over than their counterparts.

Page said something needs to be done.

According to the United States Census Bureau, only 19.8% of Springfield residents are Black, but they’re being pulled over at higher rates.

Page said the data from IDOT was alarming to their organization.

“The police department should use that data to look internally at themselves,” Page said. “To see how they’re policing and whether or not they need to change the way they’re policing.”

Page said they had discussions with SPD about why traffic stops were being made, and it boiled down to mechanical stops.

Page said traffic stop data showed recurring stops for the same people, so they partnered with SPD to discuss different options of how they could help the community.

“If there’s concerns with taillights being out and lights above license plates being out and turning signal lights being out,” Page said “Then maybe that should be an opportunity to help the community. Especially those drivers who cannot afford to get those fixed.”

For people who can’t afford to make car repairs on top of their normal expenses, Page said this voucher will allow motorists to use their own money on other necessities like groceries or utilities.

Overall, the ACLU said the Springfield Police Department does a great job, but racial disparities in traffic stops need to be addressed and this program will allow them to do so.

The Springfield Police Department is the third Illinois Police Department to join this program. The Bloomington Police Department and the Romeoville Department take part in this program.

Commander Demetris Anderson with the Romeoville Police Department said the program is currently on hiatus until they can figure out how to budget the program in.

Anderson said the program started in 2023, and it was going strong for a year and helped their police department to connect with their residents. He said their officers are pushing to continue the program.

The voucher has a value of up to $250 dollars. The Springfield Police Department is set to release more information next week on when the program starts.

However, Page wanted to make it clear motorists should not go out and try to intentionally get pulled over by SPD.

SPD is partnering with four local auto shops : 1 Stop Auto Shop, Floyd Imports, Midas Stevenson, and Vern’s Auto Repair.