99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB0168

 

Introduced , by Rep. Mary E. Flowers

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
625 ILCS 5/12-603.1  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-603.1
625 ILCS 25/4a  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1104a
625 ILCS 25/4b

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows a driver operating a motor vehicle transporting children to secure 2 children in one seat belt when there are more children of the appropriate age in the vehicle than available seat belts. Amends the Child Passenger Protection Act. Allows a person transporting children in a motor vehicle to secure 2 children in one seat belt when there are more children of the appropriate age in the vehicle than available seat belts.


LRB099 03688 RJF 23699 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB0168LRB099 03688 RJF 23699 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 Vehicle Code is amended by changing
5Section 12-603.1 as follows:
 
6    (625 ILCS 5/12-603.1)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-603.1)
7    Sec. 12-603.1. Driver and passenger required to use safety
8belts, exceptions and penalty.
9    (a) Each driver and passenger of a motor vehicle operated
10on a street or highway in this State shall wear a properly
11adjusted and fastened seat safety belt. A child less than 8
12years of age shall be protected as required pursuant to the
13Child Passenger Protection Act. Each driver of a motor vehicle
14transporting a child 8 years of age or more, but less than 16
15years of age, shall secure the child in a properly adjusted and
16fastened seat safety belt as required under the Child Passenger
17Protection Act. Each driver of a motor vehicle transporting a
18passenger who is unable, due to infirmity, illness, or age, to
19properly adjust and fasten a seat safety belt and is not
20exempted from wearing a seat safety belt under subsection (b)
21shall secure the passenger in a properly adjusted and fastened
22seat safety belt as required under this Section.
23    (b) Paragraph (a) shall not apply to any of the following:

 

 

HB0168- 2 -LRB099 03688 RJF 23699 b

1        1. A driver or passenger frequently stopping and
2    leaving the vehicle or delivering property from the
3    vehicle, if the speed of the vehicle between stops does not
4    exceed 15 miles per hour.
5        2. A driver or passenger possessing a written statement
6    from a physician that such person is unable, for medical or
7    physical reasons, to wear a seat safety belt.
8        3. A driver or passenger possessing an official
9    certificate or license endorsement issued by the
10    appropriate agency in another state or country indicating
11    that the driver is unable for medical, physical, or other
12    valid reasons to wear a seat safety belt.
13        4. A driver operating a motor vehicle in reverse.
14        5. A motor vehicle with a model year prior to 1965.
15        6. A motorcycle or motor driven cycle.
16        7. A moped.
17        8. A motor vehicle which is not required to be equipped
18    with seat safety belts under federal law.
19        9. A motor vehicle operated by a rural letter carrier
20    of the United States postal service while performing duties
21    as a rural letter carrier.
22        10. A driver or passenger of an authorized emergency
23    vehicle, except this exception does not apply to vehicles
24    of the fire department; vehicles of the Office of the State
25    Fire Marshal; or ambulances, unless the delivery of
26    life-saving measures prohibits the use of a seat safety

 

 

HB0168- 3 -LRB099 03688 RJF 23699 b

1    belt.
2        11. A back seat passenger of a taxicab.
3        12. A driver operating a motor vehicle in which there
4    are more children, 8 years of age or more but less than 16
5    years of age, than available seat belts and the driver, out
6    of necessity, secures 2 children in one seat belt.
7    (c) Failure to wear a seat safety belt in violation of this
8Section shall not be considered evidence of negligence, shall
9not limit the liability of an insurer, and shall not diminish
10any recovery for damages arising out of the ownership,
11maintenance, or operation of a motor vehicle.
12    (d) A violation of this Section shall be a petty offense
13and subject to a fine not to exceed $25.
14    (e) (Blank).
15    (f) A law enforcement officer may not search or inspect a
16motor vehicle, its contents, the driver, or a passenger solely
17because of a violation of this Section.
18(Source: P.A. 97-16, eff. 1-1-12; 97-333, eff. 8-12-11; 98-451,
19eff. 8-16-13.)
 
20    Section 10. The Child Passenger Protection Act is amended
21by changing Sections 4a and 4b as follows:
 
22    (625 ILCS 25/4a)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1104a)
23    Sec. 4a. Every person, when transporting a child 8 years of
24age or older but under the age of 16, as provided in Section 4

 

 

HB0168- 4 -LRB099 03688 RJF 23699 b

1of this Act, shall be responsible for properly securing that
2child in seat belts. If there are more children, 8 years of age
3or older but under the age of 16, than seat belts in the motor
4vehicle, the person transporting the children may out of
5necessity secure 2 children in one seat belt.
6(Source: P.A. 92-171, eff. 1-1-02; 93-100, eff. 1-1-04.)
 
7    (625 ILCS 25/4b)
8    Sec. 4b. Children 8 years of age or older but under the age
9of 19; seat belts. Every person under the age of 18 years, when
10transporting a child 8 years of age or older but under the age
11of 19 years, as provided in Section 4 of this Act, shall be
12responsible for securing that child in a properly adjusted and
13fastened seat safety belt or an appropriate child restraint
14system. If there are more children, 8 years of age or older but
15under the age of 19, than seat belts in the motor vehicle, the
16person transporting the children may out of necessity secure 2
17children in one seat belt. This Section shall also apply to
18each driver over the age of 18 years who committed an offense
19against traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles
20or any violation of Section 6-107 or Section 12-603.1 of the
21Illinois Vehicle Code in the 6 months prior to the driver's
2218th birthday and was subsequently convicted of the violation,
23until such time as a period of 6 consecutive months has elapsed
24without an additional violation and subsequent conviction of an
25offense against traffic regulations governing the movement of

 

 

HB0168- 5 -LRB099 03688 RJF 23699 b

1vehicles or any violation of Section 6-107 or Section 12-603.1
2of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
3(Source: P.A. 96-607, eff. 8-24-09; 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)