HB1017 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 04877 HEP 49887 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB1017

Introduced 1/12/2023, by Rep. Mary E. Flowers

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

625 ILCS 5/6-204	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-204
625 ILCS 5/16-104e
625 ILCS 5/16-109 new

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Creates a traffic ticket fine waiver program available to a defendant who is in default or is unable to pay required fines, fees, costs, or court assessments, or who has a suspended driver's license, resulting from a minor traffic offense under the Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance. Provides that, upon submission of the application to enter into the program, the court shall grant the defendant (1) the ability to convert the amount due into court-approved public community service; or (2) a partial obligation waiver. Provides that the program shall apply only to a defendant convicted of a minor traffic offense committed no earlier than 2 years before the effective date. Defines "minor traffic offense". Makes conforming changes.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning transportation.

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

Section 1. Legislative intent. It is the intent of this Act to provide economic relief to persons who need assistance in paying off debts incurred due to minor traffic offense tickets. The General Assembly recognizes that possessing a driver's license in this State is a privilege; however, it also recognizes that persons should not be deprived of the opportunity to provide for themselves or their families because of a suspended driver's license or increased debt from failure to pay fines and costs on traffic violation tickets.

Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Sections 6-204 and 16-104e and by adding Section 16-109 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/6-204) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-204)

Sec. 6-204. When court to forward license and reports.

(a) For the purpose of providing to the Secretary of State the records essential to the performance of the Secretary's duties under this Code to cancel, revoke or suspend the driver's license and privilege to drive motor vehicles of certain minors and of persons found guilty of the criminal offenses or traffic violations which this Code recognizes as evidence relating to unfitness to safely operate motor vehicles, the following duties are imposed upon public officials:

(1) Whenever any person is convicted of any offense for which this Code makes mandatory the cancellation or revocation of the driver's license or permit of such person by the Secretary of State, the judge of the court in which such conviction is had shall require the surrender to the clerk of the court of all driver's licenses or permits then held by the person so convicted, and the clerk of the court shall, within 5 days thereafter, forward the same, together with a report of such conviction, to the Secretary.

(2) Whenever any person is convicted of any offense under this Code or similar offenses under a municipal ordinance, other than regulations governing standing, parking or weights of vehicles, and excepting the following enumerated Sections of this Code: Sections 11-1406 (obstruction to driver's view or control), 11-1407 (improper opening of door into traffic), 11-1410 (coasting on downgrade), 11-1411 (following fire apparatus), 11-1419.01 (Motor Fuel Tax I.D. Card), 12-101 (driving vehicle which is in unsafe condition or improperly equipped), 12-201(a) (daytime lights on motorcycles), 12-202 (clearance, identification and side marker lamps), 12-204 (lamp or flag on projecting load), 12-205 (failure to display the safety lights required), 12-401 (restrictions as to tire equipment), 12-502 (mirrors), 12-503 (windshields must be unobstructed and equipped with wipers), 12-601 (horns and warning devices), 12-602 (mufflers, prevention of noise or smoke), 12-603 (seat safety belts), 12-702 (certain vehicles to carry flares or other warning devices), 12-703 (vehicles for oiling roads operated on highways), 12-710 (splash guards and replacements), 13-101 (safety tests), 15-101 (size, weight and load), 15-102 (width), 15-103 (height), 15-104 (name and address on second division vehicles), 15-107 (length of vehicle), 15-109.1 (cover or tarpaulin), 15-111 (weights), 15-112 (weights), 15-301 (weights), 15-316 (weights), 15-318 (weights), and also excepting the following enumerated Sections of the Chicago Municipal Code: Sections 27-245 (following fire apparatus), 27-254 (obstruction of traffic), 27-258 (driving vehicle which is in unsafe condition), 27-259 (coasting on downgrade), 27-264 (use of horns and signal devices), 27-265 (obstruction to driver's view or driver mechanism), 27-267 (dimming of headlights), 27-268 (unattended motor vehicle), 27-272 (illegal funeral procession), 27-273 (funeral procession on boulevard), 27-275 (driving freight hauling vehicles on boulevard), 27-276 (stopping and standing of buses or taxicabs), 27-277 (cruising of public passenger vehicles), 27-305 (parallel parking), 27-306 (diagonal parking), 27-307 (parking not to obstruct traffic), 27-308 (stopping, standing or parking regulated), 27-311 (parking regulations), 27-312 (parking regulations), 27-313 (parking regulations), 27-314 (parking regulations), 27-315 (parking regulations), 27-316 (parking regulations), 27-317 (parking regulations), 27-318 (parking regulations), 27-319 (parking regulations), 27-320 (parking regulations), 27-321 (parking regulations), 27-322 (parking regulations), 27-324 (loading and unloading at an angle), 27-333 (wheel and axle loads), 27-334 (load restrictions in the downtown district), 27-335 (load restrictions in residential areas), 27-338 (width of vehicles), 27-339 (height of vehicles), 27-340 (length of vehicles), 27-352 (reflectors on trailers), 27-353 (mufflers), 27-354 (display of plates), 27-355 (display of city vehicle tax sticker), 27-357 (identification of vehicles), 27-358 (projecting of loads), and also excepting the following enumerated paragraphs of Section 2-201 of the Rules and Regulations of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority: (l) (driving unsafe vehicle on tollway), (m) (vehicles transporting dangerous cargo not properly indicated), it shall be the duty of the clerk of the court in which such conviction is had within 5 days thereafter to forward to the Secretary of State a report of the conviction and the court may recommend the suspension of the driver's license or permit of the person so convicted.

The reporting requirements of this subsection shall apply to all violations stated in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection when the individual has been adjudicated under the Juvenile Court Act or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Such reporting requirements shall also apply to individuals adjudicated under the Juvenile Court Act or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 who have committed a violation of Section 11-501 of this Code, or similar provision of a local ordinance, or Section 9-3 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012, relating to the offense of reckless homicide, or Section 5-7 of the Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act or Section 5-16 of the Boat Registration and Safety Act, relating to the offense of operating a snowmobile or a watercraft while under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds, or combination thereof. These reporting requirements also apply to individuals adjudicated under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 based on any offense determined to have been committed in furtherance of the criminal activities of an organized gang, as provided in Section 5-710 of that Act, if those activities involved the operation or use of a motor vehicle. It shall be the duty of the clerk of the court in which adjudication is had within 5 days thereafter to forward to the Secretary of State a report of the adjudication and the court order requiring the Secretary of State to suspend the minor's driver's license and driving privilege for such time as determined by the court, but only until he or she attains the age of 18 years. All juvenile court dispositions reported to the Secretary of State under this provision shall be processed by the Secretary of State as if the cases had been adjudicated in traffic or criminal court. However, information reported relative to the offense of reckless homicide, or Section 11-501 of this Code, or a similar provision of a local ordinance, shall be privileged and available only to the Secretary of State, courts, and police officers.

The reporting requirements of this subsection (a) apply to all violations listed in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection (a), excluding parking violations, when the driver holds a CLP or CDL, regardless of the type of vehicle in which the violation occurred, or when any driver committed the violation in a commercial motor vehicle as defined in Section 6-500 of this Code.

(3) Whenever an order is entered revoking pretrial release given to secure appearance for any offense under this Code or similar offenses under municipal ordinance, it shall be the duty of the clerk of the court in which such revocation was had or the judge of such court if such court has no clerk, within 5 days thereafter to forward to the Secretary of State a report of the revocation.

(4) A report of any disposition of court supervision for a violation of Sections 6-303, 11-401, 11-501 or a similar provision of a local ordinance, 11-503, 11-504, and 11-506 of this Code, Section 5-7 of the Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act, and Section 5-16 of the Boat Registration and Safety Act shall be forwarded to the Secretary of State. A report of any disposition of court supervision for a violation of an offense defined as a serious traffic violation in this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance committed by a person under the age of 21 years shall be forwarded to the Secretary of State.

(5) Reports of conviction under this Code and sentencing hearings under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 in an electronic format or a computer processible medium shall be forwarded to the Secretary of State via the Supreme Court in the form and format required by the Illinois Supreme Court and established by a written agreement between the Supreme Court and the Secretary of State. In counties with a population over 300,000, instead of forwarding reports to the Supreme Court, reports of conviction under this Code and sentencing hearings under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 in an electronic format or a computer processible medium may be forwarded to the Secretary of State by the Circuit Court Clerk in a form and format required by the Secretary of State and established by written agreement between the Circuit Court Clerk and the Secretary of State. Failure to forward the reports of conviction or sentencing hearing under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 as required by this Section shall be deemed an omission of duty and it shall be the duty of the several State's Attorneys to enforce the requirements of this Section.

(b) Whenever a restricted driving permit is forwarded to a court, as a result of confiscation by a police officer pursuant to the authority in Section 6-113(f), it shall be the duty of the clerk, or judge, if the court has no clerk, to forward such restricted driving permit and a facsimile of the officer's citation to the Secretary of State as expeditiously as practicable.

(c) For the purposes of this Code, a revocation of pretrial release that has not been vacated, or the failure of a defendant to appear for trial after depositing his driver's license, shall be equivalent to a conviction.

(d) For the purpose of providing the Secretary of State with records necessary to properly monitor and assess driver performance and assist the courts in the proper disposition of repeat traffic law offenders, the clerk of the court shall forward to the Secretary of State, on a form prescribed by the Secretary, records of a driver's participation in a driver remedial or rehabilitative program which was required, through a court order or court supervision, in relation to the driver's arrest for a violation of Section 11-501 of this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance. The clerk of the court shall also forward to the Secretary, either on paper or in an electronic format or a computer processible medium as required under paragraph (5) of subsection (a) of this Section, any disposition of court supervision for any traffic violation, excluding those offenses listed in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this Section. These reports shall be sent within 5 days after disposition, or, if the driver is referred to a driver remedial or rehabilitative program, within 5 days of the driver's referral to that program. These reports received by the Secretary of State, including those required to be forwarded under paragraph (a)(4), shall be privileged information, available only (i) to the affected driver, (ii) to the parent or guardian of a person under the age of 18 years holding an instruction permit or a graduated driver's license, and (iii) for use by the courts, police officers, prosecuting authorities, the Secretary of State, and the driver licensing administrator of any other state. In accordance with 49 C.F.R. Part 384, all reports of court supervision, except violations related to parking, shall be forwarded to the Secretary of State for all holders of a CLP or CDL or any driver who commits an offense while driving a commercial motor vehicle. These reports shall be recorded to the driver's record as a conviction for use in the disqualification of the driver's commercial motor vehicle privileges and shall not be privileged information.

(e) For purposes of reinstating a suspended or revoked driver's license, the clerk of court shall immediately notify the Secretary of a driver's participation in a traffic ticket fine waiver program under Section 16-109 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 101-623, eff. 7-1-20; 101-652, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1104, eff. 1-1-23.)

(625 ILCS 5/16-104e)

Sec. 16-104e. Minimum penalty for traffic offenses. Except as provided under Section 16-109 of this Code or unless Unless otherwise disposed of prior to a court appearance in the same matter under Supreme Court Rule 529, a person who, after a court appearance in the same matter, is found guilty of or pleads guilty to, including any person receiving a disposition of court supervision, a violation of this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance shall pay a fine that may not be waived. Nothing in this Section shall prevent the court from ordering that the fine be paid within a specified period of time or in installments under Section 5-9-1 of the Unified Code of Corrections.

(Source: P.A. 96-1462, eff. 1-1-11.)

(625 ILCS 5/16-109 new)

Sec. 16-109. Traffic ticket fine waiver program.

(a) As used in this Section, "minor traffic offense" means a petty offense or a business offense committed under this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance.

(b) A defendant who is in default or is unable to pay required fines, fees, costs, or court assessments, or who has a suspended driver's license, resulting from a minor traffic offense under this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance, may petition the court having jurisdiction over the defendant's case to enter into a traffic ticket fine waiver program.

(c) This Section applies only to a defendant who pleads guilty to or is convicted of a minor traffic offense committed no earlier than 2 years before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly.

(d) An application under this Section shall be in writing and signed by the defendant or, if the defendant is a minor or person under legal disability, by another person having knowledge of the facts. The contents of the application and the procedure for deciding applications may be established by Supreme Court Rule.

(e) The court shall immediately notify the Secretary of State of the defendant's participation in the program and the Secretary shall, if applicable, reinstate the defendant's suspended or revoked driver's license.

(f) Upon submission of the application to enter into the program, the court shall grant the defendant:

(1) the ability to convert the amount due into court-approved public or community service, for which one hour of public or community service shall be equivalent to $10 of the amount due; or

(2) a partial obligation waiver as follows:

(A) 50% of the total amount due shall be waived for any defendant who submits the application; or

(B) 80% of the total amount due shall be waived for any defendant who:

(i) has an available income that is 125% or less of the current poverty level as established by the United States Department of Health and Human Services; or

(ii) is receiving assistance under one or more of the following means-based governmental public benefits programs: Supplemental Security Income; Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; General Assistance; Transitional Assistance; or State Children and Family Assistance.

(g) The Secretary of State shall provide information on the traffic ticket fine waiver program on its website. The clerk of court shall provide the application to a defendant upon request.