Traffic laws are constantly changing. Check this page and the links below for updates. This page is not intended to be a comprehensive list of new traffic laws; it lists changes in traffic laws of which the EDHS instructor has been made aware.

LAWS TO KNOW.pdf
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January 1, 2014 - New IL Traffic Laws

New hands-free cell phone law is now in effect in Illinois:

CELL PHONE USE ON THE ROAD

On the road, Illinois drivers will have to use hands-free technology to talk on cell phones. Otherwise, they’ll have to pull off the road to make a call.

They can still make calls on hand-held phones legally in case of an emergency.

Penalties will also increase for drivers who injure or kill others in crashes caused by the use of a cell phone or other electronic device.

Kelsey’s Law

Prohibits the issuance of a driver's license to a driver under 18 who has an unresolved

traffic citation. The new law also allows White’s office to cancel a Graduated Driver's License (GDL) if it is determined that at the time of issuance the minor had a traffic citation for which a disposition had not been rendered. Under current law, a GDL applicant is not required to report any pending traffic citations.

The measure is named Kelsey’s Law in honor of Kelsey Little who in 2011 was seriously injured in an

automobile crash by a young driver operating on a learner’s permit. The driver was issued a traffic citation for the incident, of which the Secretary of State’s office was unaware due to the lack of a reporting requirement.

Three days later the teen driver applied for and was issued a driver’s license.

Patricia’s Law

will ensure that drivers involved in fatal crashes are ineligible for court supervision unless they have maintained a clean driving history. The legislation is named Patricia’s Law in honor of Patricia McNamara who was killed in an automobile crash in which the driver received court supervision.

Parking Program for Persons with Disabilities

Due to legislation passed by the General Assembly, beginning January 1, 2014, only persons with specific types of disabilities with a valid Illinois driver’s license will be exempt from paying parking meter fees.

Public Act 97-0845, sponsored by former state Rep. Karen May and state Sen. Maggie Crotty (D-Oak Forest), requires the disability license plate or parking placard holder to meet more stringent eligibility requirements that must be approved by physicians in order to receive a yellow and grey permanent placard.

The new placard will exempt the authorized holder from the payment of parking meter fees because their disability restricts them from physically feeding the meter.

Those who do not meet eligibility requirements for the meter-exempt placard will still receive a permanent placard but will be required to pay meter fees.

Out-of-state disability license plate and placard holders will also have access to disability parking spaces but will no longer be eligible for meter-exempt parking.

Also beginning January 1, the fine for drivers caught misusing a disability placard will increase from $500 to $600. Additionally, if a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice nurse knowingly falsifies a disability application, they will face increased fines from $500 to $1,000 for a first offense and up to $2,000 for a second offense.

If the holder of the disability placard or license plates knowingly allows someone else to use their placard or license plates, that person will face a $1,000 fine for the first offense and a $2,000 fine for the second offense.

New Traffic Laws as of January 1, 2012

BUCKLE UP, BACK SEAT RIDERS

As of Jan. 1, 2012, adults riding in the back seat of a vehicle without being buckled in could be ticketed and fined up to $25. Prior to the law, only the front-seat passenger and driver were required to buckle up. Illinois is the 26th state to approve such a law.

Gov. Pat Quinn approved the law in June alongside another piece of legislation which makes it illegal for passengers to ride in trailers, wagons and other similar vehicles being towed on highways.

KEEP ON TRUCKING
Another law allows large trucks to travel the same speed as other vehicles throughout the state.

Truckers are banned from using their cell phones while driving and must use hands-free devices.

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RUN A RED LIGHT, BIKERS? YOU'RE OK
Motorcycles and bicycles, often not heavy enough to trigger sensors that switch traffic lights from red to green, will now be allowed to legally pass through that light after waiting two minutes.

Previously, the riders would have had to wait for another vehicle to arrive at the traffic light to set off the sensor.

Recent Changes in Traffic Laws

New IL Traffic and DUI Laws 2011

Below are the new changes and additions to the Illinois DUI laws and Illinois Traffic Laws for 2011:

P.A. 96-1165 (effective July 22, 2010)
Stop for Pedestrian rather than yield

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that where traffic signals are not in place, vehicles must stop and yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk rather than yielding the right-of-way by slowing down or stopping if need be.
Provides that on a school day when children are present and so close that a potential hazard exists because of the close proximity of the motorized traffic and when traffic signals are not in place or in operation, vehicles must stop and yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk rather than yielding the right-of-way by slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield.

P.A. 96-1305, (effective January 1, 2011)
Revocation - Caused Death

Provides that the Secretary of State shall immediately revoke the driving privileges of any person who has been convicted of an offense that involved the unlawful operation of a motor vehicle when that offense "was the proximate cause of the death of any person." Further provides that any person whose driving privileges have been revoked under the provisions of the introduced bill may seek to have the revocation terminated or to have the length of revocation reduced, by requesting an administrative hearing with the Secretary of State prior to the projected driver's license application eligibility date.

P.A. 96-1175, eff. 9-20-10
Serious Traffic Violation Fees

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code, the Clerks of Courts Act, and the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that any person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a serious traffic violation, as defined in the Illinois Vehicle Code, shall pay an additional fee of $40 (rather than $20). Provides that $15 (rather than $7.50) of the fee shall be deposited into the Fire Prevention Fund in the State treasury, $15 (rather than $7.50) shall be deposited into the Fire Truck Revolving Loan Fund in the State treasury, and $10 (rather than $5) shall be deposited into the Circuit Court Clerk Operation and Administrative Fund created by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Makes technical changes. Effective 60 days after becoming law. Provides that any person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a serious traffic violation, as defined in the Illinois Vehicle Code, shall pay an additional fee of $35 (rather than $20 in current law and $40 in the introduced bill). Restores current law with respect to the amount of money ($5 rather than $10, as provided by the introduced bill) that shall be deposited into the Circuit Court Clerk Operation and Administrative Fund created by the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

P.A. 96-1237, eff. 1-1-11
Intoxicated Driver Instructors or Supervisors

In a provision concerning instruction permits, provides that an instruction permit shall be restricted, by the Secretary of State, to the operation of a motor vehicle by the minor only when "under direct supervision of" (rather than "accompanied by") the adult instructor of a driver education program during enrollment in the program or when practicing "under direct supervision of" (rather than "with") a parent, legal guardian, family member, or other person who is 21 years of age or more, has a license classification to operate such vehicle and at least one year of driving experience, and who is occupying a seat beside the driver.
Creates an offense of intoxicated instructors and supervisors, making it illegal to do so while under the influence. makes the penalty a Class A misdemeanor.

P.A. 96-1007, eff. 1-1-11
Bicycle Safety - Auto

Provides that a person driving a motor vehicle shall not, in a reckless manner, drive the motor vehicle unnecessarily close to, toward, or near a "bicyclist, pedestrian, or a person riding a horse or driving an animal drawn vehicle". The penalty for a crowding a bicyclist from is a Class 3 felony.

P.A. 96-0991, eff. 1-1-11
Safety Belt - Disabled Passenger

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires the driver of a motor vehicle transporting a passenger who is unable, due to infirmity, illness, or age, to properly adjust and fasten a seat safety belt and is not exempted from wearing a seat safety belt to secure the passenger in a properly adjusted and fastened seat safety belt.

P.A. 96-1342, eff. 1-1-11
DUI Fine Increase

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and Clerks of the Court Act. Increases the amount of an administrative sanction imposed on first offenders known as "Technology fees" in addition to other penalties and liabilities upon a person who is found guilty of or pleads guilty to violating the DUI provision of the Illinois Vehicle Code from $500 to $750. Makes corresponding changes in the Clerks of the Court Act. Changes the distribution formula of the administrative sanction imposed in addition to other penalties and liabilities upon a person who is found guilty of or pleads guilty to violating the DUI provision of the Illinois Vehicle Code by distributing $350 of the $750 fee (rather than $150 of the $500 fee) to the law enforcement agency that made the arrest and distributing $400 of the $750 fee to the State Treasurer for deposit into the General Revenue Fund. Also changes the distribution of second offender Tech fees of $1000 (no change in amount of fee; just distribution).

P.A. 96-1344 effective 7-1-11
Aggravated DUI/PI Refusal-Summary Revocation

Adds a 'summary revocation' to the summary suspension procedures. A person who refuses to submit to testing following an arrest for DUI involving a motor vehicle accident that causes a Type A personal injury (or death) to another will be revoked summarily on the 46th day following arrest. The driver will be entitled to a court hearing following the same procedures as a summary suspension. There will also be Warnings involved.

P.A. 96-1002, eff. 1-1-11
Speeding - Class B Misdemeanors -No Supervision on 40 over

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person who drives a vehicle upon any highway of this State at a speed that is 30 miles per hour or more, but less than 40 miles per hour in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit established under the Illinois Vehicle Code or a local ordinance commits a Class B misdemeanor. Also amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a person charged with driving a vehicle upon any highway of the State at a speed that is 40 miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit established by the Illinois Vehicle Code or a local ordinance may not receive an order of supervision.

Older Important Traffic Laws to Know

Photo Radar to be used in IL construction zones

Parental access to teen driving records

TEXTING WHILE DRIVING is now illegal in Illinois as of January 1, 2010; The Distracted Driving Law also outlaws use of a cell phone in a school zone or a construction zone.

Any driver under age 19 cannot use a cell phone AT ALL while driving.

New, Tougher Teen Driving Laws Effective as of January 1, 2008

Governor Rod R. Blagojevich joined Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White in signing SB 172 into law on Monday, August 20, 2007. Senate Bill 172, known as Jesse White's Teen Driving Bill and sponsored by Sen. John Cullerton (D-Chicago) and Rep. John D'Amico (D-Chicago), is based on recommendations made by a Task Force assembled by Secretary of State Jesse White. The press release and summary of the law changes can be found at http://www.isbe.net/funding/pdf/sb172_law.pdf

SB 172 becomes effective January 1, 2008, except for the provision requiring six hours of on-the-street driving, which takes effect July 1, 2008.

Other Recent Changes to Teen Driving Laws:

Effective June 22, 2006, PA 94-0897 strengthens the Illinois Graduated Driver's License program by increasing the amount of practice time to 50 hours, including 10 hours of night driving, young drivers will need before being able to obtain a driver's license. This new law requires the parent, legal guardian or other responsible adult to provide written consent at the time of driver's license application verifying the teen is sufficiently prepared and able to safely operate a motor vehicle.

Effective January 1, 2006, PA 94-0241 Each driver under the age of 18 years and each of the driver's passengers under the age of 19 years (changed from 18) shall wear a safety belt.

More Laws Parents and Teens Should Know:

Effective July 1, 2007, An unmarried person under 18 years of age may have their driver's license cancelled or the Secretary of State's office may refuse to issue a driver's license or permit to an individual who fails to maintain school attendance.

A person who holds an instruction permit or a graduated license (under age 19) may not use a wireless phone while driving a vehicle except to contact a law enforcement agency, health care provider, or emergency services agency for emergency purposes.

EDHS Driver Education