[ Back ] [ Bottom ]
90_HB0475
625 ILCS 5/12-503 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-503
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to allow a licensed,
therapeutically certified optometrist to certify, when
appropriate, that a person requires tinted windshields for
medical reasons when driving.
LRB9000083DPccA
LRB9000083DPccA
1 AN ACT to amend the Illinois Vehicle Code by changing
2 Section 12-503.
3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
4 represented in the General Assembly:
5 Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by
6 changing Section 12-503 as follows:
7 (625 ILCS 5/12-503) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-503)
8 Sec. 12-503. Windshields must be unobstructed and
9 equipped with wipers.
10 (a) No person shall drive a motor vehicle with any sign,
11 poster, window application, reflective material,
12 nonreflective material or tinted film upon the front
13 windshield, sidewings or side windows immediately adjacent to
14 each side of the driver. A nonreflective tinted film may be
15 used along the uppermost portion of the windshield if such
16 material does not extend more than 6 inches down from the top
17 of the windshield. Nothing in this Section shall create a
18 cause of action on behalf of a buyer against a dealer or
19 manufacturer who sells a motor vehicle with a window which is
20 in violation of this Section.
21 (b) Nothing contained in this Section shall prohibit the
22 use of nonreflective, smoked or tinted glass, nonreflective
23 film, perforated window screen or other decorative window
24 application on windows to the rear of the driver's seat,
25 except that any motor vehicle with a window to the rear of
26 the driver's seat treated in this manner shall be equipped
27 with a side mirror on each side of the motor vehicle which
28 are in conformance with Section 12-502.
29 (c) No person shall drive a motor vehicle with any
30 objects placed or suspended between the driver and the front
31 windshield, rear window, side wings or side windows
-2- LRB9000083DPccA
1 immediately adjacent to each side of the driver which
2 materially obstructs the driver's view.
3 (d) Every motor vehicle, except motorcycles, shall be
4 equipped with a device, controlled by the driver, for
5 cleaning rain, snow, moisture or other obstructions from the
6 windshield; and no person shall drive a motor vehicle with
7 snow, ice, moisture or other material on any of the windows
8 or mirrors, which materially obstructs the driver's clear
9 view of the highway.
10 (e) No person shall drive a motor vehicle when the
11 windshield, side or rear windows are in such defective
12 condition or repair as to materially impair the driver's view
13 to the front, side or rear. A vehicle equipped with a side
14 mirror on each side of the vehicle which are in conformance
15 with Section 12-502 will be deemed to be in compliance in the
16 event the rear window of the vehicle is materially obscured.
17 (f) Paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section shall not
18 apply to:
19 (1) motor vehicles manufactured prior to January 1,
20 1982; or
21 (2) to those motor vehicles properly registered in
22 another jurisdiction.
23 (g) Paragraph (a) of this Section shall not apply to any
24 motor vehicle:
25 (1) that is owned and operated by a person
26 afflicted with or suffering from a medical illness,
27 ailment or disease which would require that person to be
28 shielded from the direct rays of the sun; or
29 (2) that is used in transporting a person when such
30 person resides at the same address as the registered
31 owner of the vehicle and such person is afflicted with or
32 suffering from a medical illness, ailment or disease
33 which would require such person to be shielded from the
34 direct rays of the sun.
-3- LRB9000083DPccA
1 It must be certified by a physician licensed to
2 practice medicine in Illinois or a therapeutically
3 certified optometrist licensed to practice optometry in
4 Illinois that the such person owning and operating or
5 being transported in a motor vehicle is afflicted with or
6 suffers from the such illness, ailment, or disease, and
7 the such certification must be carried in the motor
8 vehicle at all times. The certification shall be legible
9 and shall contain the date of issuance, the name, address
10 and signature of the attending physician or optometrist,
11 and the name, address, and medical condition of the
12 person requiring exemption. The information on the
13 certificate must remain current and shall be renewed
14 annually by the attending physician or optometrist.
15 (h) Paragraph (a) of this Section shall not apply to
16 motor vehicle stickers or other certificates issued by State
17 or local authorities which are required to be displayed upon
18 motor vehicle windows to evidence compliance with
19 requirements concerning motor vehicles.
20 (i) Those motor vehicles exempted under paragraph (f)(1)
21 of this Section shall not cause their windows to be treated
22 as described in paragraph (a) after January 1, 1993.
23 (j) A person found guilty of violating paragraphs (a),
24 (b), or (i) of this Section shall be guilty of a petty
25 offense and fined no less than $50 nor more than $500., A
26 second or subsequent violation of paragraphs (a), (b), or (i)
27 of this Section shall be treated as a Class C misdemeanor and
28 the violator fined no less than $100 nor more than $500. Any
29 person convicted under paragraphs (a), (b), or (i) of this
30 Section shall be ordered to alter any nonconforming windows
31 into compliance with this Section.
32 (Source: P.A. 87-1203; 88-52.)
[ Top ]