Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of Public Act 094-0808
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Public Act 094-0808


 

Public Act 0808 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 


 
Public Act 094-0808
 
SB0509 Enrolled LRB094 07627 DRH 37799 b

    AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
 
    WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly finds that laws
protecting school-age children with legislation limiting speed
limits near schools has successfully protected Illinois
children for decades, and a considerable number of recreational
facilities in Illinois often border or are in close proximity
to educational facilities and do not have the same protections
afforded to educational facilities; and
 
    WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly finds that ensuring
Safe Streets near educational and recreational facilities is a
goal requiring the full attention of this General Assembly and
the full cooperation of the federal, State, and local units of
government and their respective executive departments and
agencies; therefore
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by adding
Section 11-605.3 as follows:
 
    (625 ILCS 5/11-605.3 new)
    Sec. 11-605.3. Special traffic protections while passing
parks and recreation facilities and areas.
    (a) As used in this Section:
        (1) "Park district" means the following entities:
            (A) any park district organized under the Park
        District Code;
            (B) any park district organized under the Chicago
        Park District Act; and
            (C) any municipality, county, forest district,
        school district, township, or other unit of local
        government that operates a public recreation
        department or public recreation facilities that has
        recreation facilities that are not on land owned by any
        park district listed in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of
        this subdivision (a)(1).
        (2) "Park zone" means the recreation facilities and
    areas on any land owned or operated by a park district that
    are used for recreational purposes, including but not
    limited to: parks; playgrounds; swimming pools; hiking
    trails; bicycle paths; picnic areas; roads and streets; and
    parking lots.
        (3) "Park zone street" means that portion of any street
    or intersection under the control of a local unit of
    government, adjacent to a park zone, where the local unit
    of government has, by ordinance or resolution, designated
    and approved the street or intersection as a park zone
    street. If, before the effective date of this amendatory
    Act of the 94th General Assembly, a street already had a
    posted speed limit lower than 20 miles per hour, then the
    lower limit may be used for that park zone street.
        (4) "Safety purposes" means the costs associated with:
    park zone safety education; the purchase, installation,
    and maintenance of signs, roadway painting, and caution
    lights mounted on park zone signs; and any other expense
    associated with park zones and park zone streets.
    (b) On any day when children are present and within 50 feet
of motorized traffic, a person may not drive a motor vehicle at
a speed in excess of 20 miles per hour or any lower posted
speed while traveling on a park zone street that has been
designated for the posted reduced speed.
    (c) On any day when children are present and within 50 feet
of motorized traffic, any driver traveling on a park zone
street who fails to come to a complete stop at a stop sign or
red light, including a driver who fails to come to a complete
stop at a red light before turning right onto a park zone
street, is in violation of this Section.
    (d) This Section does not apply unless appropriate signs
are posted upon park zone streets maintained by the Department
or by the unit of local government in which the park zone is
located. With regard to the special speed limit on park zone
streets, the signs must give proper due warning that a park
zone is being approached and must indicate the maximum speed
limit on the park zone street.
    (e) A first violation of this Section is a petty offense
with a minimum fine of $250. A second or subsequent violation
of this Section is a petty offense with a minimum fine of $500.
    (f) When a fine for a violation of this Section is imposed,
the person who violates this Section shall be charged an
additional $50, to be paid to the park district for safety
purposes.
    (g) The Department shall, within 6 months of the effective
date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly,
design a set of standardized traffic signs for park zones and
park zone streets, including but not limited to: "park zone",
"park zone speed limit", and "warning: approaching a park
zone". The design of these signs shall be made available to all
units of local government or manufacturers at no charge, except
for reproduction and postage.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.

Effective Date: 5/26/2006