This article highlights certain recent updates to the Illinois Motor Vehicle Statutes and City of Chicago Traffic Ordinances. Here, we will discuss the following topics:
- Use of a cellular telephone when involved in a personal injury accident;
- Non-moving violations as a basis to revoke an Illinois Driver’s License;
- Speed zone camera violations within Chicago city limits.
Driving a motor vehicle in the State of Illinois, or anywhere else, for that matter, is a privilege, and not a right. This privilege can be taken away for many reasons, small or large. Generally, most major traffic offenses, including Reckless Homicide, Driving Under the Influence (DUI), and speeding offenses are governed by the Illinois Vehicle Code, while many more minor offenses are governed by ordinances of each city, town, or village in which the offense occurs.
With the COVID-19 pandemic raging throughout 2020, the Illinois Legislature enacted fewer new laws and amended even fewer existing statutes. However, there are three notable recent Illinois traffic law changes to consider.
Keep Your Thumbs On The Wheel, Not On The Keyboard
These days, it is difficult to resist the urge to look at a cellular telephone or to send that “one quick text” to a friend or family member. Accidents are more likely to occur when driving and distracted by one’s phone. Just the act of driving while using a cell phone is already an offense that, if convicted, will be reported to the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office and may affect one’s driving privileges. Add in being involved in an accident that causes personal injury to yourself or another, and the possible penalties increase. Drivers who are using a cell phone and are involved in an accident that hurts someone are now subject, upon conviction, to a minimum fine of $1,000.00 and mandatory reporting to the Secretary of State, where one’s license may be revoked.
Parking Tickets Won’t Affect Your License Status
An Illinois Driver’s License may be suspended or revoked for nearly one hundred different reasons. DUI convictions, failing to insure one’s vehicle, failure to pay court fines, and failure to pay a court-ordered civil judgment are a few of the reasons one’s license may be suspended. Up until recently, if one had too many parking tickets or other non-moving violations, this would suspend that person’s driver’s license, and any further traffic stops would result in a criminal arrest for driving on a suspended driver’s license. However, you cannot pay a parking ticket or toll violations if you cannot drive. As of 2021, failure to pay a fine for a non-moving violation will no longer result in the suspension, revocation, or loss of an Illinois Driver’s license.
Speed Zone Camera Fines Are Back
After a short break for Chicago drivers who were subject to a faulty speed zone camera operating system, violations are again being imposed. On city roads adjunct to schools, parks, and hospitals, signs denote the speed limit on that road during certain hours and certain days of the week. Beginning on March 1st, 2021, anyone driving 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit in speed camera zones will receive a ticket. Those traveling 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit will be fined $35.00 and vehicles driving 11 miles or more over the speed limit will be fined $100.00.
Request A Consultation With An Illinois Traffic Lawyer
For further information regarding these or any other traffic law matters you have, call our office at (630) 324-6666, or schedule a consultation with one of our experienced family lawyers (change for appropriate area of law) today. You can also fill out our confidential contact form and we will get back to you shortly.
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