102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB2971

 

Introduced 2/19/2021, by Rep. Thomas Morrison

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
625 ILCS 5/12-610.1

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person under the age of 19 years who holds an instruction permit a graduated license, may use a wireless telephone while driving a vehicle on a roadway if the use of the wireless telephone is for GPS purposes only.


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A BILL FOR

 

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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 Vehicle Code is amended by
5changing Section 12-610.1 as follows:
 
6    (625 ILCS 5/12-610.1)
7    Sec. 12-610.1. Wireless telephones.
8    (a) As used in this Section, "wireless telephone" means a
9device that is capable of transmitting or receiving telephonic
10communications without a wire connecting the device to the
11telephone network.
12    (b) Except as provided in subsection (b-1), a A person
13under the age of 19 years who holds an instruction permit
14issued under Section 6-105 or 6-107.1, or a person under the
15age of 19 years who holds a graduated license issued under
16Section 6-107, may not drive a vehicle on a roadway while using
17a wireless phone.
18    (b-1) A person under the age of 19 years who holds an
19instruction permit issued under Section 6-105 or 6-107.1 or a
20graduated license issued under Section 6-107 may use a
21wireless telephone while driving a vehicle on a roadway if the
22use of the wireless telephone is for GPS purposes only.
23    (b-5) A person under the age of 19 commits aggravated use

 

 

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1of a wireless telephone when he or she violates subsection (b)
2and in committing the violation he or she was involved in a
3motor vehicle accident that results in great bodily harm,
4permanent disability, disfigurement, or death to another and
5the violation was a proximate cause of the injury or death.
6    (c) This Section does not apply to a person under the age
7of 19 years using a wireless telephone for emergency purposes,
8including, but not limited to, an emergency call to a law
9enforcement agency, health care provider, fire department, or
10other emergency services agency or entity.
11    (d) If a graduated driver's license holder over the age of
1218 committed an offense against traffic regulations governing
13the movement of vehicles or any violation of Section 6-107 or
14Section 12-603.1 of this Code in the 6 months prior to the
15graduated driver's license holder's 18th birthday, and was
16subsequently convicted of the violation, the provisions of
17paragraph (b) shall continue to apply until such time as a
18period of 6 consecutive months has elapsed without an
19additional violation and subsequent conviction of an offense
20against traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles
21or any violation of Section 6-107 or Section 12-603.1 of this
22Code.
23    (e) A person, regardless of age, may not use a wireless
24telephone at any time while operating a motor vehicle on a
25roadway in a school speed zone established under Section
2611-605, on a highway in a construction or maintenance speed

 

 

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1zone established under Section 11-605.1, or within 500 feet of
2an emergency scene. As used in this Section, "emergency scene"
3means a location where an authorized emergency vehicle as
4defined by Section 1-105 of this Code is present and has
5activated its oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights. This
6subsection (e) does not apply to (i) a person engaged in a
7highway construction or maintenance project for which a
8construction or maintenance speed zone has been established
9under Section 11-605.1, (ii) a person using a wireless
10telephone for emergency purposes, including, but not limited
11to, law enforcement agency, health care provider, fire
12department, or other emergency services agency or entity,
13(iii) a law enforcement officer or operator of an emergency
14vehicle when performing the officer's or operator's official
15duties, (iv) a person using a wireless telephone in
16voice-operated mode, which may include the use of a headset,
17(v) a person using a wireless telephone by pressing a single
18button to initiate or terminate a voice communication, or (vi)
19a person using an electronic communication device for the sole
20purpose of reporting an emergency situation and continued
21communication with emergency personnel during the emergency
22situation.
23    (e-5) A person commits aggravated use of a wireless
24telephone when he or she violates subsection (e) and in
25committing the violation he or she was involved in a motor
26vehicle accident that results in great bodily harm, permanent

 

 

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1disability, disfigurement, or death to another and the
2violation was a proximate cause of the injury or death.
3    (f) A person convicted of violating subsection (b-5) or
4(e-5) commits a Class A misdemeanor if the violation resulted
5in great bodily harm, permanent disability, or disfigurement
6to another. A person convicted of violating subsection (b-5)
7or (e-5) commits a Class 4 felony if the violation resulted in
8the death of another person.
9(Source: P.A. 97-828, eff. 7-20-12; 97-830, eff. 1-1-13;
1098-463, eff. 8-16-13; 98-507, eff. 1-1-14.)