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1     AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
 
2     WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly finds that laws
3 protecting school-age children with legislation limiting speed
4 limits near schools has successfully protected Illinois
5 children for decades, and a considerable number of recreational
6 facilities in Illinois often border or are in close proximity
7 to educational facilities and do not have the same protections
8 afforded to educational facilities; and
 
9     WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly finds that ensuring
10 Safe Streets near educational and recreational facilities is a
11 goal requiring the full attention of this General Assembly and
12 the full cooperation of the federal, State, and local units of
13 government and their respective executive departments and
14 agencies; therefore
 
15     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
16 represented in the General Assembly:
 
17     Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by adding
18 Section 11-605.3 as follows:
 
19     (625 ILCS 5/11-605.3 new)
20     Sec. 11-605.3. Special traffic protections while passing
21 parks and recreation facilities and areas.
22     (a) As used in this Section:
23         (1) "Park district" means the following entities:
24             (A) any park district organized under the Park
25         District Code;
26             (B) any park district organized under the Chicago
27         Park District Act; and
28             (C) any municipality, county, forest district,
29         school district, township, or other unit of local
30         government that operates a public recreation

 

 

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1         department or public recreation facilities that has
2         recreation facilities that are not on land owned by any
3         park district listed in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of
4         this subdivision (a)(1).
5         (2) "Park zone" means the recreation facilities and
6     areas on any land owned or operated by a park district that
7     is used for recreational purposes, or for access to those
8     recreational areas, including but not limited to: parks;
9     playgrounds; swimming pools; hiking trails; bicycle paths;
10     picnic areas; roads and streets; and parking lots.
11         (3) "Park zone street" means any street or intersection
12     under the control of a local unit of government, adjacent
13     to or within 220 yards of a park zone, where the local unit
14     of government has, by ordinance or resolution, designated
15     and approved the street or intersection as part of a park
16     zone. The designation may include a reduction in speed to
17     20 miles per hour or it may include a street without the
18     speed reduction. If a street already has a posted speed
19     limit lower than 20 miles per hour, then the lower limit
20     may be used for that park zone street.
21         (4) "Safety purposes" means the costs associated with:
22     park zone safety education; the purchase, installation,
23     and maintenance of signs, roadway painting, and caution
24     lights mounted on park zone signs; and any other expense
25     associated with park zones and park zone streets.
26     (b) On any day when children are present and within 50 feet
27 of motorized traffic, so that a potential hazard exists, a
28 person may not drive a motor vehicle at a speed in excess of 20
29 miles per hour any lower posted speed, (i) while passing a park
30 zone or (ii) while traveling on a park zone street that has
31 been designated for the posted reduced speed, and where
32 children are going to and from recreation facilities and areas
33 located in a park zone.
34     (c) On any day when children are present and within 50 feet
35 of motorized traffic, so that a potential hazard exists,
36 failure to come to a complete stop at a stop sign or other

 

 

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1 traffic control device, including failure to come to a complete
2 stop before a right turn otherwise permitted at a red light, is
3 a violation of this Section.
4     (d) Nothing in this Chapter prohibits the use of electronic
5 speed detecting devices within 500 feet of signs within a
6 special park zone indicating that zone. Evidence obtained
7 through use of those devices is admissible in any prosecution
8 for speeding or failing to stop at a traffic control device or
9 stop sign, if the device is used only for enforcement within
10 the special park zone or adjacent intersections.
11     (e) This Section does not apply unless appropriate signs
12 are posted upon streets and highways maintained by the
13 Department or by the unit of local government in which the park
14 zone is located. With regard to the special speed limit on park
15 zone streets, the signs must give proper due warning that a
16 park zone is being approached and must indicate the maximum
17 speed limit on the park zone street.
18     (f) A first violation of this Section is a petty offense
19 with a minimum fine of $250. A second or subsequent violation
20 of this Section is a petty offense with a minimum fine of $500.
21     (h) When a fine for a violation of subsection (a) is $250
22 or greater, the person who violates this Section shall be
23 charged an additional $50, to be paid to the park district for
24 safety purposes.
25     (i) The Department shall, within 6 months of the effective
26 date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly,
27 design a set of standardized traffic signs for park zones and
28 park zone streets, including but not limited to: "park zone",
29 "park zone speed limit", and "warning: approaching a park
30 zone". The design of these signs shall be made available to all
31 units of local government or manufacturers at no charge, except
32 for reproduction and postage.