625 ILCS 5/ Illinois Vehicle Code.

(625 ILCS 5/6-410) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-410)

Sec. 6-410. Vehicle inspections. The Department of Transportation shall provide for the inspection of all motor vehicles used for driver training, and shall issue a safety inspection sticker provided:

(a) The motor vehicle has been inspected by the Department and found to be in safe mechanical condition;

(b) The motor vehicle is equipped with dual control brakes and a mirror on each side of the motor vehicle so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of such motor vehicle; and

(c) The motor vehicle is equipped with a sign or signs visible from the front and the rear in letters no less than 2 inches tall, listing the full name of the driver training school which has registered and insured the motor vehicle.

(Source: P.A. 96-740, eff. 1-1-10; 96-962, eff. 7-2-10.)

(625 ILCS 5/6-411) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-411)

Sec. 6-411. Qualifications of Driver Training Instructors. In order to qualify for a license as an instructor for a driving school, an applicant must:

(a) Be of good moral character;

(b) Authorize an investigation to include a fingerprint based background check to determine if the applicant has ever been convicted of a crime and if so, the disposition of those convictions; this authorization shall indicate the scope of the inquiry and the agencies which may be contacted. Upon this authorization the Secretary of State may request and receive information and assistance from any federal, state or local governmental agency as part of the authorized investigation. Each applicant shall submit his or her fingerprints to the Illinois State Police in the form and manner prescribed by the Illinois State Police. These fingerprints shall be checked against the fingerprint records now and hereafter filed in the Illinois State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history records databases. The Illinois State Police shall charge a fee for conducting the criminal history records check, which shall be deposited in the State Police Services Fund and shall not exceed the actual cost of the records check. The applicant shall be required to pay all related fingerprint fees including, but not limited to, the amounts established by the Illinois State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to process fingerprint based criminal background investigations. The Illinois State Police shall provide information concerning any criminal convictions, and their disposition, brought against the applicant upon request of the Secretary of State when the request is made in the form and manner required by the Illinois State Police. Unless otherwise prohibited by law, the information derived from this investigation including the source of this information, and any conclusions or recommendations derived from this information by the Secretary of State shall be provided to the applicant, or his designee, upon request to the Secretary of State, prior to any final action by the Secretary of State on the application. At any administrative hearing held under Section 2-118 of this Code relating to the denial, cancellation, suspension, or revocation of a driver training school license, the Secretary of State is authorized to utilize at that hearing any criminal histories, criminal convictions, and disposition information obtained under this Section. Any criminal convictions and their disposition information obtained by the Secretary of State shall be confidential and may not be transmitted outside the Office of the Secretary of State, except as required herein, and may not be transmitted to anyone within the Office of the Secretary of State except as needed for the purpose of evaluating the applicant. The information obtained from this investigation may be maintained by the Secretary of State or any agency to which such information was transmitted. Only information and standards which bear a reasonable and rational relation to the performance of a driver training instructor shall be used by the Secretary of State. Any employee of the Secretary of State who gives or causes to be given away any confidential information concerning any criminal charges and their disposition of an applicant shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor unless release of such information is authorized by this Section;

(c) Pass such examination as the Secretary of State shall require on (1) traffic laws, (2) safe driving practices, (3) operation of motor vehicles, and (4) qualifications of teacher;

(d) Be physically able to operate safely a motor vehicle and to train others in the operation of motor vehicles. An instructors license application must be accompanied by a medical examination report completed by a competent physician licensed to practice in the State of Illinois;

(e) Hold a valid Illinois drivers license;

(f) Have graduated from an accredited high school after at least 4 years of high school education or the equivalent; and

(g) Pay to the Secretary of State an application and license fee of $70.

If a driver training school class room instructor teaches an approved driver education course, as defined in Section 1-103 of this Code, to students under 18 years of age, he or she shall furnish to the Secretary of State a certificate issued by the State Board of Education that the said instructor is qualified and meets the minimum educational standards for teaching driver education courses in the local public or parochial school systems, except that no State Board of Education certification shall be required of any instructor who teaches exclusively in a commercial driving school. On and after July 1, 1986, the existing rules and regulations of the State Board of Education concerning commercial driving schools shall continue to remain in effect but shall be administered by the Secretary of State until such time as the Secretary of State shall amend or repeal the rules in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Upon request, the Secretary of State shall issue a certificate of completion to a student under 18 years of age who has completed an approved driver education course at a commercial driving school.

(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)

(625 ILCS 5/6-412) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-412)

Sec. 6-412. Issuance of Licenses to Driver Training Schools and Driver Training Instructors. The Secretary of State shall issue a license certificate to each applicant to conduct a driver training school or to each driver training instructor when the Secretary of State is satisfied that such person has met the qualifications required under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 96-740, eff. 1-1-10; 96-962, eff. 7-2-10.)

(625 ILCS 5/6-413) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-413)

Sec. 6-413. Expiration of Licenses. All outstanding licenses issued to any driver training school or driver training instructor under this Act shall expire by operation of law 24 months from the date of issuance, unless sooner cancelled, suspended or revoked under the provisions of Section 6-420.

(Source: P.A. 96-740, eff. 1-1-10; 96-962, eff. 7-2-10.)

(625 ILCS 5/6-414) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-414)

Sec. 6-414. Renewal of Licenses. The license of each driver training school may be renewed subject to the same conditions as the original license, and upon the payment of a renewal license fee of $500 and $50 for each renewal of a branch application.

(Source: P.A. 96-740, eff. 1-1-10; 96-962, eff. 7-2-10.)

(625 ILCS 5/6-415) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-415)

Sec. 6-415. Renewal Fee. The license of each driver training instructor may be renewed subject to the same conditions of the original license, and upon the payment of annual renewal license fee of $70.

(Source: P.A. 96-740, eff. 1-1-10; 96-962, eff. 7-2-10.)

(625 ILCS 5/6-416) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-416)

Sec. 6-416. Licenses: Form and Filing. All applications for renewal of a driver training school license or driver training instructor's license shall be on a form prescribed by the Secretary, and must be filed with the Secretary not less than 15 days preceding the expiration date of the license to be renewed.

(Source: P.A. 96-740, eff. 1-1-10; 96-962, eff. 7-2-10.)

(625 ILCS 5/6-417) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-417)

Sec. 6-417. Instructor's license. Each driver training instructor's license shall authorize the licensee to instruct only at or for the driver training school indicated on the license. The Secretary shall not issue a driver training instructor's license to any individual who is licensed to instruct at or for another driver training school.

(Source: P.A. 96-740, eff. 1-1-10; 96-962, eff. 7-2-10.)

(625 ILCS 5/6-418) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-418)

Sec. 6-418. Instructor's Records.

Every licensee shall keep a record showing the name and address of each person given instruction and the instruction permit or driver's license number of every person given instruction in the driving of a motor vehicle, and shall show the particular type of instruction given and how much time was devoted to each such type of instruction. Such records shall be open to the inspection of the Secretary or his representatives at all reasonable times, but shall be for the confidential use of the Secretary.

(Source: P.A. 76-1586.)

(625 ILCS 5/6-419) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-419)

Sec. 6-419. Rules and regulations. The Secretary is authorized to prescribe by rule standards for the eligibility, conduct and operation of driver training schools, and instructors and to adopt other reasonable rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. The Secretary may adopt rules exempting particular types of driver training schools from specific statutory provisions in Sections 6-401 through 6-424, where application of those provisions would be inconsistent with the manner of instruction offered by those schools. The Secretary, in consultation with the State Board of Education, shall adopt course content standards for driver education for those persons under the age of 18 years, which shall include the operation and equipment of motor vehicles. After June 30, 2017, the course content standards for driver education provided by a driver training school to those persons under the age of 18 years shall include instruction concerning law enforcement procedures for traffic stops, including a demonstration of the proper actions to be taken during a traffic stop and appropriate interactions with law enforcement.

(Source: P.A. 99-720, eff. 1-1-17.)

(625 ILCS 5/6-420) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-420)

Sec. 6-420. Denial, cancellation, suspension, revocation and failure to renew license. The Secretary may deny, cancel, suspend or revoke, or refuse to renew any driver training school license or any driver training instructor license:

(1) When the Secretary is satisfied that the licensee fails to meet the requirements to receive or hold a license under this Code;

(2) Whenever the licensee fails to keep the records required by this Code;

(3) Whenever the licensee permits fraud or engages in fraudulent practices either with reference to a student or the Secretary, or induces or countenances fraud or fraudulent practices on the part of any applicant for a driver's license or permit;

(4) Whenever the licensee fails to comply with any provision of this Code or any rule of the Secretary made pursuant thereto;

(5) Whenever the licensee represents himself as an agent or employee of the Secretary or uses advertising designed to lead or which would reasonably have the effect of leading persons to believe that such licensee is in fact an employee or representative of the Secretary;

(6) Whenever the licensee or any employee or agent of the licensee solicits driver training or instruction in an office of any department of the Secretary of State having to do with the administration of any law relating to motor vehicles, or within 1,500 feet of any such office;

(7) Whenever the licensee is convicted of driving while under the influence of alcohol, other drugs, or a combination thereof; leaving the scene of a crash; reckless homicide or reckless driving; or

(8) Whenever a driver training school advertises that a driver's license is guaranteed upon completion of the course of instruction.

(Source: P.A. 102-982, eff. 7-1-23.)

(625 ILCS 5/6-421) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-421)

Sec. 6-421. Judicial Review. The action of the Secretary in cancelling, suspending, revoking or denying any license under this Act shall be subject to judicial review in the Circuit Court of Sangamon County or the Circuit Court of Cook County, and the provisions of the Administrative Review Law, and all amendments and modifications thereto, and the rules adopted pursuant thereto, are hereby adopted and shall apply to and govern every action for judicial review of the final acts or decisions of the Secretary under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 82-783.)

(625 ILCS 5/6-422) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-422)

Sec. 6-422. Prior law and licenses thereunder. This Act shall not affect the validity of any outstanding license issued to any driver training school or driver training instructor by the Secretary of State under any prior law, nor shall this Act affect the validity or legality of any contract, agreement or undertaking entered into by any driver training school or driver training instructor, or any person, firm, corporation, partnership or association based on those provisions of any prior law.

(Source: P.A. 96-740, eff. 1-1-10; 96-962, eff. 7-2-10.)

(625 ILCS 5/6-423) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-423)

Sec. 6-423. Deposit of fees. Fees collected under this Article shall be disbursed under subsection (g) of Section 2-119 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 99-127, eff. 1-1-16.)