Legislation

* Bolded text indicates legislation passed by the Senate and House

AUTOMATED ENFORCEMENT

HB.4686: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code by decreasing the maximum civil penalty and failure to pay an Automated Enforcement violation from $100 to $50.

HB.4692: Amends the Automated Traffic Law Enforcement Systems section of the Illinois Vehicle Code by preventing counties and municipalities from issuing violations to motorists making lawful right on red turns and left on red turns to/from one way streets.

HB.5746: Amends the Automated Traffic Law Enforcement Systems section of the Illinois Vehicle Code by creating a backdoor referendum option for issuing fines under “Red Light Running.”

SB.0935: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code by modifying the Automated Enforcement Section; requiring a sworn officer to review each violation prior to sending; the recorded images must be viewable online through a municipality maintained website and will now require intersection stop light sequences to conform to Illinois Manual on Uniform Traffic Control devices. Status - PA 96-1016, Effective January 1, 2011.

SB.3140: Amends the Automated Traffic Law Enforcement Systems section of the Illinois Vehicle Code providing a sworn officer must review the violations prior to sending; sets forth requirements for viewing violations online, automated enforcement system housings must be a distinctive color and signs must be posted at intersections with right turns reminding drivers to come to a complete stop before proceeding.

ALCOHOL / DUI

HB.2490: Establishes alternative sentencing and increased sanctions for driving while revoked or suspended multiple times when their original license suspension/revocation is for DUI. Rather than serving 180 days in prison, those who are convicted four to nine times may serve 60 days and wear a Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor (SCRAM) bracelet for 270 days.

HB.4580: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code by requiring the Secretary of State to revoke the driver's license/privilege of anyone convicted of causing a crash that resulted in the death of another person. Status - Sent to the Governor

HB.4774: Provides that the Illinois Department of Public Health may not promulgate rules prohibiting an Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic (EMT-P) licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health from drawing blood to be used as evidence for a violation of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

HB.4969: Amends the Criminal Code of 1963, providing that all reasonable and necessary force may be used when executing a search warrant for the taking of blood, hair or other materials from a person's body if he/she is resisting the execution of the warrant.

HB.5341: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code providing that a person who accompanies or instructs a minor driving a motor vehicle pursuant to an instruction permit and is under the influence of alcohol, drugs or intoxicating compounds violates the regulations governing the movement of motor vehicles or is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, depending on the violation. Status - Sent to the Governor

HB.5494: Adds $75 penalty for offenders of certain codes within Illinois' statutes who misses a court date and has a warrant issued for his/her arrest. Gives $70 of the penalty to the agency that brings in the offender on a warrant. Status - Sent to the Governor

HB.5720: Allows the Secretary of State to suspend an individual's driver's license for six months (or 12 months for a repeat offense) for a conviction or supervision for drug-related violations.

SB.2566: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code providing it shall not be unlawful for any person to drive or operate certain non-highway vehicles on county roadways or township roadways for the purpose of conducting farming operations to and from the home, farm/farm buildings, and any adjacent or nearby farm land.

SB.3029: Amends the Criminal Code of 1961, in relation to the provisions concerning forfeiture of vehicles for various DUI offenses, describes the offenses instead of cross referencing the clauses of the DUI statute. Status - Sent to the Governor

SB.3390: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code by including the exact ratio for converting blood serum/ blood plasma alcohol levels to the whole blood equivalent, for grams of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

SB.3616: Makes the fine for conviction or supervision of a DUI $750 (increased from the current $500). Status - Sent to the Governor

SB.3732: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code, providing that refusal to submit to chemical testing after causing an accident resulting in personal injury or death to another will result in the revocation of their privilege to operate a motor vehicle and will also disqualify them from operating a commercial motor vehicle if he/she is a CDL holder. Status - Sent to the Governor

SB.3775: Gives the Illinois SOS responsibility of the courts by granting them the authority to issue Monitoring Driving Device Permits (MDDP) to first time DUI offenders. Specifically, notifying a first-time DUI offender of their options for driving relief (issuance of a MDDP) and also determination of indengency would be conducted by the Secretary of State.

DISTRACTED DRIVING

HB.4937: Prohibit the use (talk, e-mail, text etc.) on an “electronic communication device” while operating a vehicle in Illinois. It also states certain exceptions; reporting an emergency situation, using the device in hands-free or voice-activated mode or while in park/stopped due to normal traffic.

HB.5761: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code by exempting properly-licensed amateur radio operators from the new law prohibiting texting while driving in Illinois.

SCHOOL BUSES & OCCUPANT PROTECTION

HB.4691: Amends the Insurance Code by decreasing the fines for a first offense from $100 to $75 and from $500 to $200 for a second offense of the Child Passenger Protection Act. He/she shall not be convicted of violating this act upon proof of possession of a child restraint system. Status - Public Act…96-0914, Effective January 1, 2011.

HB.5120: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code by adding the option for school buses to be equipped with a cellular radio telecommunication device (cell phone) for communication with school authorities or their designees instead of a two-way radio while a school bus driver is in possession of a school bus. Status - Status – PA 96-1066. Effective July 16, 2010.

SB.2515: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code, providing on July 1, 2011, each school bus that is purchased new shall be equipped with seat safety belts for each passenger.

SPEED LIMITS

HB.4779: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code, stating that any person convicted of reckless driving or excess speeding of 40mph over the designated limit which resulted in appropriate emergency response, he/she is required to make restitution to such agency for the cost of that emergency response not to exceed $1000. Status – Sent to the Governor

SB.2804: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code by re-defining a residence district for purposes of establishing maximum speed limits. States a residence district shall be at least a quarter mile long with residences or businesses spaced no more than 500 feet apart (previously 300 ft.). Status – PA 96-987 Effective January 1, 2011.

SB.3668: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code by increasing the speed limit on interstate highways outside the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will to 70 mph for 1st Division vehicles and 2nd Division vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of

8000 lbs or less, including vehicle and maximum load.

SB.3790: Amends the Civil Code of Procedures allowing the evidence of speed based on a laser speed detection device used by the Department of State Police shall be acceptable for all purposes in any court or administrative proceeding.

SB.3796: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code stating that a person driving in excess of 30 mph but less than 40 mph over the posted speed limit commits a Class B misdemeanor. Status – PA 96- 1002. Effective January 1, 2011.

~By Mason T. McDaniel, Legislative Coordinator- Division of Traffic Safety

Archives