093_HB1320
LRB093 09682 DRH 09921 b
1 AN ACT in relation to highways.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Illinois Highway Code is amended by
5 adding Section 9-112.6 as follows:
6 (605 ILCS 5/9-112.6 new)
7 Sec. 9-112.6. Memorials to persons killed in traffic
8 accidents.
9 (a) As a means of promoting safety upon the highways of
10 this State, the Department of Transportation shall, at the
11 request of relatives or friends of a person killed in a
12 traffic accident upon a highway of the State and with the
13 consent of the next of kin of the deceased, erect and
14 maintain a traffic accident memorial in memory of the
15 decedent. The traffic accident memorial shall serve as a
16 reminder that a fatality occurred on that stretch of highway
17 and so that public safety will be enhanced.
18 (b) A memorial erected under this Section must be a
19 golden star and must be erected adjacent to the portion of
20 the highway where the accident occurred. Only one star may
21 be placed for each fatal accident. Stars are not permitted
22 within the boundaries of any municipality.
23 (c) The maximum tip-to-tip dimension of the star shall
24 be 12 inches. The star must be constructed of high-grade
25 plywood, plastic, aluminum, or steel. The Star must be gold
26 in color, must have 5 points, and must have a standard star
27 shape. The top point of the star must point in a vertical
28 direction. The star must be attached to an upright post by 2
29 bolts. No other signs or items may be attached to the post.
30 The star may not be reflectorized.
31 (d) Each post must be a U-shaped steel section, similar
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1 to a highway delineator post, and must weigh approximately
2 1.12 pounds per linear foot. The Department of Transportation
3 must comply with the Illinois Underground Utility Facilities
4 Damage Prevention Act before installing the post. No items
5 may be hung from the star, and no inscription may be placed
6 on the star.
7 (e) The county superintendent of highways, or his or her
8 designee, must approve the star location, minimizing any
9 adverse effect on highway maintenance operations. Stars must
10 be placed as far as practical from highway traffic, but must
11 be placed not less than 20 feet from the shoulder or edge of
12 the highway where highway right-of-way width permits. Stars
13 shall be mounted approximately 4 feet above the ground.
14 (f) Department of Transportation personnel participating
15 in the maintenance of the star must park their vehicles as
16 far as practical from the traffic lanes and in an area where
17 sight distance on the highway is good in both directions. A
18 high degree of safety for the motoring public and the
19 participants must be maintained.
20 (g) Stars not maintained in good condition shall be
21 removed by the county highway superintendent or his or her
22 designee. No planting or landscaping work is permitted at the
23 star location.