625 ILCS 5/13-109

(625 ILCS 5/13-109) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 13-109)

Sec. 13-109. Safety test prior to application for license - Subsequent tests - Repairs - Retest.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Chapter 13, each second division vehicle, first division vehicle including a taxi which is used for a purpose that requires a school bus driver permit, and medical transport vehicle, except those vehicles other than school buses or medical transport vehicles owned or operated by a municipal corporation or political subdivision having a population of 1,000,000 or more inhabitants which are subjected to safety tests imposed by local ordinance or resolution, operated in whole or in part over the highways of this State, motor vehicle used for driver education training, and each vehicle designed to carry 15 or fewer passengers operated by a contract carrier transporting employees in the course of their employment on a highway of this State, shall be subjected to the safety test provided for in Chapter 13 of this Code. Tests shall be conducted at an official testing station or by an official mobile safety testing company within 6 months prior to the application for registration as provided for in this Code. Subsequently each vehicle shall be subject to tests (i) at least every 6 months, (ii) in the case of school buses and first division vehicles including taxis which are used for a purpose that requires a school bus driver permit, at least every 6 months or 10,000 miles, whichever occurs first, (iii) in the case of driver education vehicles used by public high schools, at least every 12 months for vehicles over 5 model years of age or having an odometer reading of over 75,000 miles, whichever occurs first, or (iv) in the case of truck tractors, semitrailers, and property-carrying vehicles registered for a gross weight of more than 10,000 pounds but less than 26,001 pounds, at least every 12 months, and according to schedules established by rules and regulations promulgated by the Department. Any component subject to regular inspection which is damaged in a reportable crash must be reinspected before the bus or first division vehicle including a taxi which is used for a purpose that requires a school bus driver permit is returned to service.

(b) The Department shall also conduct periodic nonscheduled inspections of school buses, of buses registered as charitable vehicles and of religious organization buses. If such inspection reveals that a vehicle is not in substantial compliance with the rules promulgated by the Department, the Department shall remove the Certificate of Safety from the vehicle, and shall place the vehicle out-of-service. A bright orange, triangular decal shall be placed on an out-of-service vehicle where the Certificate of Safety has been removed. The vehicle must pass a safety test at an official testing station or official mobile safety testing company before it is again placed in service.

(c) If the violation is not substantial a bright yellow, triangular sticker shall be placed next to the Certificate of Safety at the time the nonscheduled inspection is made. The Department shall reinspect the vehicle after 3 working days to determine that the violation has been corrected and remove the yellow, triangular decal. If the violation is not corrected within 3 working days, the Department shall place the vehicle out-of-service in accordance with procedures in subsection (b).

(d) If a violation is not substantial and does not directly affect the safe operation of the vehicle, the Department shall issue a warning notice requiring correction of the violation. Such correction shall be accomplished as soon as practicable and a report of the correction shall be made to the Department within 30 days in a manner established by the Department. If the Department has not been advised that the corrections have been made, and the violations still exist, the Department shall place the vehicle out-of-service in accordance with procedures in subsection (b).

(e) The Department is authorized to promulgate regulations to implement its program of nonscheduled inspections. Causing or allowing the operation of an out-of-service vehicle with passengers or unauthorized removal of an out-of-service sticker is a Class 3 felony. Causing or allowing the operation of a vehicle with a 3-day sticker for longer than 3 days with the sticker attached or the unauthorized removal of a 3-day sticker is a Class C misdemeanor.

(f) If a second division vehicle, first division vehicle including a taxi which is used for a purpose that requires a school bus driver permit, medical transport vehicle, or vehicle operated by a contract carrier as provided in subsection (a) of this Section is in safe mechanical condition, as determined pursuant to Chapter 13, the operator of the official testing station or official mobile safety testing company must at once issue to the second division vehicle, first division vehicle including a taxi which is used for a purpose that requires a school bus driver permit, or medical transport vehicle a certificate of safety, in the form and manner prescribed by the Department, which shall be affixed to the vehicle by the certified safety tester who performed the safety tests. The owner of the second division vehicle, first division vehicle including a taxi which is used for a purpose that requires a school bus driver permit, or medical transport vehicle or the contract carrier shall at all times display the Certificate of Safety on the second division vehicle, first division vehicle including a taxi which is used for a purpose that requires a school bus driver permit, medical transport vehicle, or vehicle operated by a contract carrier in the manner prescribed by the Department.

(g) If a test shows that a second division vehicle, first division vehicle including a taxi which is used for a purpose that requires a school bus driver permit, medical transport vehicle, or vehicle operated by a contract carrier is not in safe mechanical condition as provided in this Section, it shall not be operated on the highways until it has been repaired and submitted to a retest at an official testing station or official mobile safety testing company. If the owner or contract carrier submits the vehicle to a retest at a different official testing station or official mobile safety testing company from that where it failed to pass the first test, he or she shall present to the operator of the second station the report of the original test, and shall notify the Department in writing, giving the name and address of the original testing station or official mobile safety testing company and the defects which prevented the issuance of a Certificate of Safety, and the name and address of the second official testing station or official mobile safety testing company making the retest.

(Source: P.A. 102-982, eff. 7-1-23; 103-476, eff. 1-1-24.)