Public Act 0241 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB0229 Enrolled LRB094 07775 DRH 37953 b

Public Act 094-0241

AN ACT concerning transportation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Sections 6-107, 12-603, and 12-603.1 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/6-107) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-107)

Sec. 6-107. Graduated license.

(a) The purpose of the Graduated Licensing Program is to develop safe and mature driving habits in young, inexperienced drivers and reduce or prevent motor vehicle accidents, fatalities, and injuries by:

(1) providing for an increase in the time of practice period before granting permission to obtain a driver's license;

(2) strengthening driver licensing and testing standards for persons under the age of 21 years;

(3) sanctioning driving privileges of drivers under age 21 who have committed serious traffic violations or other specified offenses; and

(4) setting stricter standards to promote the public's health and safety.

(b) The application of any person under the age of 18 years, and not legally emancipated by marriage, for a drivers license or permit to operate a motor vehicle issued under the laws of this State, shall be accompanied by the written consent of either parent of the applicant; otherwise by the guardian having custody of the applicant, or in the event there is no parent or guardian, then by another responsible adult.

No graduated driver's license shall be issued to any applicant under 18 years of age, unless the applicant is at least 16 years of age and has:

(1) Held a valid instruction permit for a minimum of 3 months.

(2) Passed an approved driver education course and submits proof of having passed the course as may be required.

(3) certification by the parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult that the applicant has had a minimum of 25 hours of behind-the-wheel practice time and is sufficiently prepared and able to safely operate a motor vehicle.

(c) No graduated driver's license or permit shall be issued to any applicant under 18 years of age who has committed the offense of operating a motor vehicle without a valid license or permit in violation of Section 6-101 of this Code and no graduated driver's license or permit shall be issued to any applicant under 18 years of age who has committed an offense that would otherwise result in a mandatory revocation of a license or permit as provided in Section 6-205 of this Code or who has been either convicted of or adjudicated a delinquent based upon a violation of the Cannabis Control Act or the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, while that individual was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle. For purposes of this Section, any person placed on probation under Section 10 of the Cannabis Control Act or Section 410 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act shall not be considered convicted. Any person found guilty of this offense, while in actual physical control of a motor vehicle, shall have an entry made in the court record by the judge that this offense did occur while the person was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle and order the clerk of the court to report the violation to the Secretary of State as such.

(d) No graduated driver's license shall be issued for 6 months to any applicant under the age of 18 years who has been convicted of any offense defined as a serious traffic violation in this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance.

(e) No graduated driver's license holder under the age of 18 years shall operate any motor vehicle, except a motor driven cycle or motorcycle, with more than one passenger in the front seat of the motor vehicle and no more passengers in the back seats than the number of available seat safety belts as set forth in Section 12-603 of this Code.

(f) No graduated driver's license holder under the age of 18 shall operate a motor vehicle unless each driver and front or back seat passenger under the age of 19 18 is wearing a properly adjusted and fastened seat safety belt.

(g) If a graduated driver's license holder is under the age of 18 when he or she receives the license, for the first 6 months he or she holds the license or until he or she reaches the age of 18, whichever occurs sooner, the graduated license holder may not operate a motor vehicle with more than one passenger in the vehicle who is under the age of 20, unless any additional passenger or passengers are siblings, step-siblings, children, or stepchildren of the driver.

(Source: P.A. 93-101, eff. 1-1-04; 93-788, eff. 1-1-05.)

(625 ILCS 5/12-603.1) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-603.1)

Sec. 12-603.1. Driver and passenger required to use safety belts, exceptions and penalty.

(a) Each driver and front seat passenger of a motor vehicle operated on a street or highway in this State shall wear a properly adjusted and fastened seat safety belt; except that, a child less than 6 years of age shall be protected as required pursuant to the Child Passenger Protection Act. Each driver under the age of 18 years and each of the driver's passengers under the age of 19 18 years of a motor vehicle operated on a street or highway in this State shall wear a properly adjusted and fastened seat safety belt. Each driver of a motor vehicle transporting a child 6 years of age or more, but less than 16 years of age, in the front seat of the motor vehicle shall secure the child in a properly adjusted and fastened seat safety belt.

(b) Paragraph (a) shall not apply to any of the following:

1. A driver or passenger frequently stopping and leaving the vehicle or delivering property from the vehicle, if the speed of the vehicle between stops does not exceed 15 miles per hour.

2. A driver or passenger possessing a written statement from a physician that such person is unable, for medical or physical reasons, to wear a seat safety belt.

3. A driver or passenger possessing an official certificate or license endorsement issued by the appropriate agency in another state or country indicating that the driver is unable for medical, physical, or other valid reasons to wear a seat safety belt.

4. A driver operating a motor vehicle in reverse.

5. A motor vehicle with a model year prior to 1965.

6. A motorcycle or motor driven cycle.

7. A motorized pedalcycle.

8. A motor vehicle which is not required to be equipped with seat safety belts under federal law.

9. A motor vehicle operated by a rural letter carrier of the United States postal service while performing duties as a rural letter carrier.

(c) Failure to wear a seat safety belt in violation of this Section shall not be considered evidence of negligence, shall not limit the liability of an insurer, and shall not diminish any recovery for damages arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or operation of a motor vehicle.

(d) A violation of this Section shall be a petty offense and subject to a fine not to exceed $25.

(e) (Blank).

(f) A law enforcement officer may not search or inspect a motor vehicle, its contents, the driver, or a passenger solely because of a violation of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 93-99, eff. 7-3-03.)

Section 10. The Child Passenger Protection Act is amended by changing Section 4b as follows:

(625 ILCS 25/4b)

Sec. 4b. Children 8 years of age or older but under the age of 19 18; seat belts. Every person under the age of 18 years, when transporting a child 8 years of age or older but under the age of 19 18 years, as provided in Section 4 of this Act, shall be responsible for securing that child in a properly adjusted and fastened seat safety belt or an appropriate child restraint system.

(Source: P.A. 93-100, eff. 1-1-04.)