FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: ISP
Communications Office
December 29, 2011
217-782-6637
www.isp.state.il.us
TDD: 1-800-255-3323
NEW MOTOR VEHICLE LAWS ENFORCED BY ILLINOIS STATE POLICE STARTING JANUARY
1, 2012
Law Enforcement Officials Statewide Continue to Push for Zero Fatalities
with New Laws & Focus on Fatal Four
Springfield, IL – Beginning January 1, 2012, Illinois State Police (ISP)
will begin enforcing new motor vehicle laws that passed in 2011, as the
push to decrease traffic fatalities remains a top priority for law
enforcement officials across Illinois.
The ISP's Fatal Four most common traffic violations – Speeding, DUI, seat
belts, and distracted driving, remain a top priority for ISP Troopers to
enforce, and will be further enhanced with new laws that take effect on
January 1, 2012.
"Traffic fatalities are under 1,000 for the third straight year, but one
traffic fatality is one too many," said ISP Director Hiram Grau. "Although
there are many factors that contribute to the reduction of traffic crash
fatalities, it is no coincidence that seat belt compliance in Illinois has
increased, as the number of fatalities has decreased."
Director Grau also pointed to the fact that public safety partnerships and
awareness campaigns also contribute to the compliance level of motorists
and passengers.
The Illinois State Police continues to support safety education programs
and initiatives which have had a direct impact on public safety and have
reduced the number of traffic crash fatalities on Illinois roadways. As of
December 29, preliminary data indicates Illinois has experienced 821
traffic crash fatalities in 2011, which are 26 fatalities less than the
same time period in 2010.
Seat Belts for All Occupants. Illinois State Police will enforce a new
seat belt law that requires all passengers of a motor vehicle to be
properly restrained when the vehicle is operated on a street or highway.
The previous legislation only required the front seat driver, passenger,
and passengers under the age of 19 to wear a seat belt. The new
legislation requires ALL passengers traveling inside a vehicle to be
properly restrained. The new law does not apply to back seat taxicab
passengers, authorized emergency vehicles, or those issued a medical
exemption.
Enforcement of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regulation.
This new regulation prohibits the use of a hand-held mobile device by
anyone driving a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV). The regulation also
prohibits Motor Carriers from requiring drivers to use a hand-held device
while operating a CMV on a highway. The only exceptions are when the
mobile device is being used with a hands-free application, when the CMV is
pulled over and completely stopped at a safe location, or when a CMV driver
is requesting emergency police or fire services.
Since the inception of distracted driving laws in 2010, the Illinois State
Police has issued over 19,540 citations and written warnings to distracted
drivers. Commercial motor vehicle operators account for 2.5 percent of the
citations and warnings issued.
A mobile telephone is considered a mobile communication device that falls
under or uses any commercial mobile radio service as defined by the Federal
Communications Commission. The definition does not include two-way or
Citizens Band (CB) radio services.
CMV drivers will only be allowed to utilize a hand-held mobile telephone
under the following circumstances:
When the driver uses a hands-free means of communication (i.e.
Bluetooth, ear piece);
When the driver has moved the vehicle to the side of, or off, a highway
and has halted in a location where the vehicle can safely remain
stationary, or
The driver is involved in an emergency situation that requires police or
fire services.
Truck Speed Limits. In July 2011, Governor Pat Quinn signed into law
Public Act 97-0202 which amended the Illinois Vehicle Code's Speed
Restrictions. The new law will take effect on January 3, 2012, and
increases the speed limit for second division vehicles traveling on
four-lane highways where the speed limit is 65 miles per hour.
The legislation removes the split speed limit provision for second division
vehicles with gross weights of 8,001 pounds (or more) operated on a
four-lane highway outside the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake,
McHenry, and Will. The previous law restricted second division vehicles to
a maximum speed of 55 miles per hour.
Signs posting the new speed limits throughout the state will be coordinated
by the Illinois Department of Transportation around snow and ice removal
operations. The removal of the signs is scheduled to begin in January.
ISP Districts will be coordinating enforcement efforts statewide and have
identified problem areas and roads to target for the New Year holiday
weekend. Roadside safety check patrols are already underway, and law
enforcement officials will be enforcing the laws to ensure that motorists
arrive at their final destinations safely.
Illinois State Police are responsible for the public safety of the citizens
of Illinois and patrol more than 20,000 miles of the state's highways.
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ISP Driving Zero Fatalities to Reality
(See attached file: New Year ISP Enforcement Laws.doc)
