SB0098 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 03649 DRH 23675 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB0098

Introduced 1/31/2007, by Sen. M. Maggie Crotty

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

625 ILCS 5/11-301	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-301
625 ILCS 5/11-301.1	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-301.1
625 ILCS 5/11-1301.8 new

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, if 2 or more adjacent parking spaces have been restricted, under an ordinance or regulation of a unit of local government, to use by vehicles displaying special plates or a special parking decal or device issued to a person with disabilities, at least one of those adjacent parking spaces must be restricted to use by a vehicle equipped with a wheelchair lift. Provides that if a parking space restricted to use by a vehicle equipped with a wheelchair lift is located in a parking lot, that parking space must be one of the disability parking spaces that are closest to the primary facility that the parking lot is serving. Provides that a parking restriction enacted under the new provision does not become effective until signs giving reasonable notice of the restriction have been posted. Provides that local authorities shall impose fines not exceeding $200 for violation of parking restrictions imposed under the provision. Provides that the signs shall be in a form and manner prescribed by the Code.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

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 11-301 and 11-301.1 and by adding Section 11-1301.8 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/11-301) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-301)

Sec. 11-301. Department to adopt sign manual.

(a) The Department shall adopt a State manual and specifications for a uniform system of traffic-control devices consistent with this Chapter for use upon highways within this State. Such manual shall include the adoption of the R 7-8 sign adopted by the United States Department of Transportation to designate the reservation of parking facilities for a person with disabilities. Non-conforming signs in use prior to January 1, 1985 shall not constitute a violation during their useful lives, which shall not be extended by other means than normal maintenance. The manual shall also specify insofar as practicable the minimum warrants justifying the use of the various traffic control devices. Such uniform system shall correlate with and, where not inconsistent with Illinois highway conditions, conform to the system set forth in the most recent edition of the national manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways.

(b) Signs adopted by the Department to designate the reservation of parking facilities for a person with disabilities and for a vehicle equipped with a wheelchair lift shall also exhibit, in a manner determined by the Department, the words "$100 Fine".

(c) If the amount of a fine is changed, the Department shall change the design of the signs to indicate the current amount of the fine.

(Source: P.A. 88-685, eff. 1-24-95; 89-533, eff. 1-1-97.)

(625 ILCS 5/11-301.1) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-301.1)

Sec. 11-301.1. Beginning July 1, 1988 and through May 31, 2008, all signs erected and used to designate the reservation of parking facilities for a person with disabilities shall be in a form and manner prescribed under Section 11-301 of this Code, and all parking spaces reserved for a person with disabilities, except those reserving on-street parking areas, shall be at least 16 feet wide. Non-conforming signs in use prior to July 1, 1988 shall not constitute a violation during their useful lives, which shall not be extended by means other than normal maintenance. Beginning June 1, 2008, all signs erected and used to designate the reservation of parking facilities for a person with disabilities or for a vehicle equipped with a wheelchair lift shall be in a form and manner prescribed under Section 11-301 of this Code, and all parking spaces reserved for a person with disabilities or for a vehicle equipped with a wheelchair lift, except those reserving on-street parking areas, shall be at least 16 feet wide. Non-conforming signs in use prior to June 1, 2008 shall not constitute a violation during their useful lives, which shall not be extended by means other than normal maintenance. Beginning October 1, 1992, all parking spaces reserved for a person with disabilities, except those reserving on-street parking areas, shall be at least 16 feet wide.

(Source: P.A. 87-562; 88-685, eff. 1-24-95.)

(625 ILCS 5/11-1301.8 new)

Sec. 11-1301.8. Reserved parking for vehicles equipped with a wheelchair lift.

(a) If 2 or more adjacent parking spaces have been restricted, under an ordinance or regulation of a unit of local government, to use by vehicles displaying disability plates issued under Section 3-616 or Disabled Veterans' plates issued under Section 3-609 of this Code or a special person with disabilities parking decal or device issued under Section 3-616 or Section 11-1301.2, at least one of those adjacent parking spaces must be restricted to use by a vehicle equipped with a wheelchair lift.

(b) If a restricted parking space created under subsection (a) of this Section is located in a parking lot, that parking space must be one of the parking spaces restricted to vehicles displaying special plates issued under Section 3-609 or 3-616 or a parking decal or device issued under Section 3-616 or 11-1301.2 that are closest to the primary facility that the parking lot is serving.

(c) A parking restriction enacted under subsection (a) of this Section does not become effective until signs giving reasonable notice of the parking restriction have been posted.

(d) Local authorities shall impose fines as established in subsection (c) of Section 11-1301.3 for violations of parking restrictions imposed under this Section.