99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB1844

 

Introduced 2/20/2015, by Sen. Antonio Muņoz

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
40 ILCS 5/3-125.3 new
40 ILCS 5/7-171.1 new
625 ILCS 5/11-208.8

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows counties to establish automated speed enforcement systems in safety zones. Defines the term, "safety zone" in municipalities with more than 40,000 but less than 1,000,000 inhabitants and counties with more than 100,000 but less than 3,000,000 inhabitants. Provides that an additional fee of $5 for every $50 of fine imposed under automated speed enforcement systems in safety zones shall be paid into the pension fund to which law enforcement officers employed by the municipality or county contribute. Provides that municipalities with more than 40,000 but less than 1,000,000 inhabitants and counties with more than 100,000 but less than 3,000,000 inhabitants may not use automated traffic law enforcement systems within a safety zone inside the boundaries of a school district without the consent of the school board for that school district. Requires that the municipality or county shall be responsible for entering into contracts with vendors for the installation, maintenance, and operation of the automated speed enforcement system, as well as be responsible for enforcement of the automated speed enforcement system. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Downstate Police and IMRF Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Specifies how the new fees paid to the pension fund shall be treated and provides that they shall not be offset against payment of required contributions.


LRB099 10974 RJF 31329 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB1844LRB099 10974 RJF 31329 b

1    AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Pension Code is amended by adding
5Sections 3-125.3 and 7-171.1 as follows:
 
6    (40 ILCS 5/3-125.3 new)
7    Sec. 3-125.3. Income from certain fees. Any fees received
8by the fund under Section 11-208.8 of the Illinois Vehicle
9Code: (i) shall not be considered payment of any employer
10contribution required under Section 3-125 and shall not be
11offset against or paid in lieu of any such required
12contribution; but (ii) shall be considered assets of the fund
13and shall be considered in calculating the amount of future
14required employer contributions to the fund.
 
15    (40 ILCS 5/7-171.1 new)
16    Sec. 7-171.1. Income from certain fees. Any fees received
17by the Fund under Section 11-208.8 of the Illinois Vehicle Code
18from a participating municipality: (i) shall not be considered
19payment of any employer contribution required of that
20municipality under Section 7-172 and shall not be offset
21against or paid in lieu of any such required contribution; but
22(ii) shall be considered assets of the Fund and credited to the

 

 

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1appropriate account of the municipality for its law enforcement
2employees, and shall be considered in calculating the amount of
3that municipality's future required employer contributions to
4the Fund.
 
5    Section 10. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by
6changing Section 11-208.8 as follows:
 
7    (625 ILCS 5/11-208.8)
8    Sec. 11-208.8. Automated speed enforcement systems in
9safety zones.
10    (a) As used in this Section:
11    "Automated speed enforcement system" means a photographic
12device, radar device, laser device, or other electrical or
13mechanical device or devices installed or utilized in a safety
14zone and designed to record the speed of a vehicle and obtain a
15clear photograph or other recorded image of the vehicle and the
16vehicle's registration plate while the driver is violating
17Article VI of Chapter 11 of this Code or a similar provision of
18a local ordinance.
19    An automated speed enforcement system is a system, located
20in a safety zone which is under the jurisdiction of a
21municipality or county, that produces a recorded image of a
22motor vehicle's violation of a provision of this Code or a
23local ordinance and is designed to obtain a clear recorded
24image of the vehicle and the vehicle's license plate. The

 

 

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1recorded image must also display the time, date, and location
2of the violation.
3    "Owner" means the person or entity to whom the vehicle is
4registered.
5    "Recorded image" means images recorded by an automated
6speed enforcement system on:
7        (1) 2 or more photographs;
8        (2) 2 or more microphotographs;
9        (3) 2 or more electronic images; or
10        (4) a video recording showing the motor vehicle and, on
11    at least one image or portion of the recording, clearly
12    identifying the registration plate number of the motor
13    vehicle.
14    "Safety zone" means an area that is within one-eighth of a
15mile from the nearest property line of any public or private
16elementary or secondary school, or from the nearest property
17line of any facility, area, or land owned by a school district
18that is used for educational purposes approved by the Illinois
19State Board of Education, not including school district
20headquarters or administrative buildings. In municipalities
21with more than 40,000 but less than 1,000,000 inhabitants and
22counties with more than 100,000 but less than 3,000,000
23inhabitants the term "safety zone" shall not include property
24owned by a park district or roadways adjacent to property owned
25by a park district unless that property or roadway is also
26adjacent to property owned by a school district that is used

 

 

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1for educational purposes approved by the State Board of
2Education, not including school district headquarters or
3administrative buildings. In municipalities with 1,000,000 or
4more inhabitants and counties with 3,000,000 or more
5inhabitants a A safety zone also includes an area that is
6within one-eighth of a mile from the nearest property line of
7any facility, area, or land owned by a park district used for
8recreational purposes. However, if any portion of a roadway is
9within either one-eighth mile radius, the safety zone also
10shall include the roadway extended to the furthest portion of
11the next furthest intersection. In municipalities with a
12population of 1,000,000 or more inhabitants the The term
13"safety zone" does not include any portion of the roadway known
14as Lake Shore Drive or any controlled access highway with 8 or
15more lanes of traffic.
16    (a-5) The automated speed enforcement system shall be
17operational and violations shall be recorded only at the
18following times:
19        (i) if the safety zone is based upon the property line
20    of any facility, area, or land owned by a school district,
21    only on school days and no earlier than 6 a.m. and no later
22    than 8:30 p.m. if the school day is during the period of
23    Monday through Thursday, or 9 p.m. if the school day is a
24    Friday; and
25        (ii) if the safety zone is based upon the property line
26    of any facility, area, or land owned by a park district, no

 

 

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1    earlier than one hour prior to the time that the facility,
2    area, or land is open to the public or other patrons, and
3    no later than one hour after the facility, area, or land is
4    closed to the public or other patrons.
5    (b) A municipality or county that produces a recorded image
6of a motor vehicle's violation of a provision of this Code or a
7local ordinance must make the recorded images of a violation
8accessible to the alleged violator by providing the alleged
9violator with a website address, accessible through the
10Internet.
11    (c) Notwithstanding any penalties for any other violations
12of this Code, the owner of a motor vehicle used in a traffic
13violation recorded by an automated speed enforcement system
14shall be subject to the following penalties:
15        (1) if the recorded speed is no less than 6 miles per
16    hour and no more than 10 miles per hour over the legal
17    speed limit, a civil penalty not exceeding $50, plus an
18    additional penalty of not more than $50 for failure to pay
19    the original penalty in a timely manner; or
20        (2) if the recorded speed is more than 10 miles per
21    hour over the legal speed limit, a civil penalty not
22    exceeding $100, plus an additional penalty of not more than
23    $100 for failure to pay the original penalty in a timely
24    manner. In addition to the fine imposed under this
25    paragraph (2), an additional fee of $5 shall be imposed for
26    every $50, or fraction thereof, of fine imposed by the

 

 

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1    municipality or county. The municipality or county shall
2    pay the money received from the additional fee to the
3    pension fund that law enforcement officers employed by the
4    municipality or county contribute to, within 30 days of
5    receipt of the money.
6    A penalty may not be imposed under this Section if the
7driver of the motor vehicle received a Uniform Traffic Citation
8from a police officer for a speeding violation occurring within
9one-eighth of a mile and 15 minutes of the violation that was
10recorded by the system. A violation for which a civil penalty
11is imposed under this Section is not a violation of a traffic
12regulation governing the movement of vehicles and may not be
13recorded on the driving record of the owner of the vehicle. A
14law enforcement officer is not required to be present or to
15witness the violation. No penalty may be imposed under this
16Section if the recorded speed of a vehicle is 5 miles per hour
17or less over the legal speed limit. The municipality or county
18may send, in the same manner that notices are sent under this
19Section, a speed violation warning notice where the violation
20involves a speed of 5 miles per hour or less above the legal
21speed limit.
22    (d) The net proceeds that a municipality or county receives
23from civil penalties imposed under an automated speed
24enforcement system, after deducting all non-personnel and
25personnel costs associated with the operation and maintenance
26of such system, shall be expended or obligated by the

 

 

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1municipality for the following purposes:
2        (i) public safety initiatives to ensure safe passage
3    around schools, and to provide police protection and
4    surveillance around schools and parks, including but not
5    limited to: (1) personnel costs; and (2) non-personnel
6    costs such as construction and maintenance of public safety
7    infrastructure and equipment;
8        (ii) initiatives to improve pedestrian and traffic
9    safety;
10        (iii) construction and maintenance of infrastructure
11    within the municipality or county, including but not
12    limited to roads and bridges; and
13        (iv) after school programs.
14    (e) For each violation of a provision of this Code or a
15local ordinance recorded by an automated speed enforcement
16system, the municipality or county having jurisdiction shall
17issue a written notice of the violation to the registered owner
18of the vehicle as the alleged violator. The notice shall be
19delivered to the registered owner of the vehicle, by mail,
20within 30 days after the Secretary of State notifies the
21municipality or county of the identity of the owner of the
22vehicle, but in no event later than 90 days after the
23violation.
24    (f) The notice required under subsection (e) of this
25Section shall include:
26        (1) the name and address of the registered owner of the

 

 

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1    vehicle;
2        (2) the registration number of the motor vehicle
3    involved in the violation;
4        (3) the violation charged;
5        (4) the date, time, and location where the violation
6    occurred;
7        (5) a copy of the recorded image or images;
8        (6) the amount of the civil penalty imposed and the
9    date by which the civil penalty should be paid;
10        (7) a statement that recorded images are evidence of a
11    violation of a speed restriction;
12        (8) a warning that failure to pay the civil penalty or
13    to contest liability in a timely manner is an admission of
14    liability and may result in a suspension of the driving
15    privileges of the registered owner of the vehicle;
16        (9) a statement that the person may elect to proceed
17    by:
18            (A) paying the fine; or
19            (B) challenging the charge in court, by mail, or by
20        administrative hearing; and
21        (10) a website address, accessible through the
22    Internet, where the person may view the recorded images of
23    the violation.
24    (g) If a person charged with a traffic violation, as a
25result of an automated speed enforcement system, does not pay
26the fine or successfully contest the civil penalty resulting

 

 

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1from that violation, the Secretary of State shall suspend the
2driving privileges of the registered owner of the vehicle under
3Section 6-306.5 of this Code for failing to pay any fine or
4penalty due and owing, or both, as a result of a combination of
55 violations of the automated speed enforcement system or the
6automated traffic law under Section 11-208.6 of this Code.
7    (h) Based on inspection of recorded images produced by an
8automated speed enforcement system, a notice alleging that the
9violation occurred shall be evidence of the facts contained in
10the notice and admissible in any proceeding alleging a
11violation under this Section.
12    (i) Recorded images made by an automated speed enforcement
13system are confidential and shall be made available only to the
14alleged violator and governmental and law enforcement agencies
15for purposes of adjudicating a violation of this Section, for
16statistical purposes, or for other governmental purposes. Any
17recorded image evidencing a violation of this Section, however,
18may be admissible in any proceeding resulting from the issuance
19of the citation.
20    (j) The court or hearing officer may consider in defense of
21a violation:
22        (1) that the motor vehicle or registration plates of
23    the motor vehicle were stolen before the violation occurred
24    and not under the control or in the possession of the owner
25    at the time of the violation;
26        (2) that the driver of the motor vehicle received a

 

 

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1    Uniform Traffic Citation from a police officer for a
2    speeding violation occurring within one-eighth of a mile
3    and 15 minutes of the violation that was recorded by the
4    system; and
5        (3) any other evidence or issues provided by municipal
6    or county ordinance.
7    (k) To demonstrate that the motor vehicle or the
8registration plates were stolen before the violation occurred
9and were not under the control or possession of the owner at
10the time of the violation, the owner must submit proof that a
11report concerning the stolen motor vehicle or registration
12plates was filed with a law enforcement agency in a timely
13manner.
14    (l) A roadway equipped with an automated speed enforcement
15system shall be posted with a sign conforming to the national
16Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices that is visible to
17approaching traffic stating that vehicle speeds are being
18photo-enforced and indicating the speed limit. The
19municipality or county shall install such additional signage as
20it determines is necessary to give reasonable notice to drivers
21as to where automated speed enforcement systems are installed.
22    (m) A roadway where a new automated speed enforcement
23system is installed shall be posted with signs providing 30
24days notice of the use of a new automated speed enforcement
25system prior to the issuance of any citations through the
26automated speed enforcement system.

 

 

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1    (n) The compensation paid for an automated speed
2enforcement system must be based on the value of the equipment
3or the services provided and may not be based on the number of
4traffic citations issued or the revenue generated by the
5system.
6    (o) A municipality or county shall make a certified report
7to the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 6-306.5 of this
8Code whenever a registered owner of a vehicle has failed to pay
9any fine or penalty due and owing as a result of a combination
10of 5 offenses for automated speed or traffic law enforcement
11system violations.
12    (p) No person who is the lessor of a motor vehicle pursuant
13to a written lease agreement shall be liable for an automated
14speed or traffic law enforcement system violation involving
15such motor vehicle during the period of the lease; provided
16that upon the request of the appropriate authority received
17within 120 days after the violation occurred, the lessor
18provides within 60 days after such receipt the name and address
19of the lessee. The drivers license number of a lessee may be
20subsequently individually requested by the appropriate
21authority if needed for enforcement of this Section.
22    Upon the provision of information by the lessor pursuant to
23this subsection, the municipality or county may issue the
24violation to the lessee of the vehicle in the same manner as it
25would issue a violation to a registered owner of a vehicle
26pursuant to this Section, and the lessee may be held liable for

 

 

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1the violation.
2    (q) A municipality or county using an automated speed
3enforcement system must provide notice to drivers by publishing
4the locations of all safety zones where system equipment is
5installed on the website of the municipality or county.
6    (r) A municipality or county operating an automated speed
7enforcement system shall conduct a statistical analysis to
8assess the safety impact of the system. The statistical
9analysis shall be based upon the best available crash, traffic,
10and other data, and shall cover a period of time before and
11after installation of the system sufficient to provide a
12statistically valid comparison of safety impact. The
13statistical analysis shall be consistent with professional
14judgment and acceptable industry practice. The statistical
15analysis also shall be consistent with the data required for
16valid comparisons of before and after conditions and shall be
17conducted within a reasonable period following the
18installation of the automated traffic law enforcement system.
19The statistical analysis required by this subsection shall be
20made available to the public and shall be published on the
21website of the municipality.
22    (s) In municipalities with more than 40,000 but less than
231,000,000 inhabitants and counties with more than 100,000 but
24less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, if the municipality or county
25enacts an ordinance allowing the installation and operation of
26automated traffic law enforcement systems under this Section,

 

 

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1these automated traffic law enforcement systems shall not be
2used within a safety zone that lies within the boundaries of a
3school district without the majority approval of the school
4board for that school district. The municipality or county
5shall be responsible for entering into contracts with vendors
6for the installation, maintenance, and operation of the
7automated speed enforcement system. The terms and conditions of
8any contract entered into under this subsection (s) shall be
9between the municipality or county and the vendor.
10Administration and enforcement of the automated speed
11enforcement system shall be the responsibility of the
12municipality or county. This Section applies only to
13municipalities with a population of 1,000,000 or more
14inhabitants.
15(Source: P.A. 97-672, eff. 7-1-12; 97-674, eff. 7-1-12; 98-463,
16eff. 8-16-13.)