Traffic/DUI

(Cullerton, D-Chicago; D’Amico, D-Chicago) makes several changes to the use of red-light cameras that give tickets automatically. (1) Requires that a law-enforcement officer (or retired one) must review and approve all determinations by a technician that a car committed a red-light camera violation. (2) Governments are prohibited from charging an additional fee to an alleged violator for exercising his or her right to an administrative hearing. In other words, no “trial tax.” (3) The motorist must also be given at least 25 days after an administrative hearing to pay any civil penalty. (4) Requires governments that produce a recorded image of a red-light camera violation to make those images accessible to the motorist on a website address on the Internet. (5) Prohibits a red-light violation if the motorist moves past the stop line or cross walk if the vehicle comes to a complete stop and does not enter the intersection. But it appears to create an exception to this prohibition if there pedestrians or bicyclists present. Effective January 1, 2011.

Cullerton, D-Chicago; D’Amico, D-Chicago) does two things. (1) Makes it a Class B misdemeanor to be convicted of speeding more than 30 miles per hour but less than 40 miles per hour above the speed limit. (2) Prohibits the court from awarding supervision to a driver for driving more than 40 miles per hour or more above the speed limit (Class A misdemeanor). Effective January 1, 2011.

(Arroyo, D-Chicago; Steans, D-Chicago) requires vehicles to stop and yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk (instead of yielding the right-of-way by slowing down or stopping if need be) if traffic signs are not in place. Makes the same change for school days when children are present and so close that a potential hazard exists because of the close proximity of the motorized traffic and the traffic signals are not in place or in operation. Sent to the Governor.

(Cullerton, D-Chicago; D’Amico, D-Chicago) does two things. (1) Makes it a Class B misdemeanor to be convicted of speeding more than 30 miles per hour but less than 40 miles per hour above the speed limit. (2) Prohibits the court from awarding supervision to a driver for driving more than 40 miles per hour or more above the speed limit (Class A misdemeanor). Passed both chambers.

(Crotty, D-Oak Forest; Mell, D-Chicago) allows the secretary of state to suspend the driver's license of a suspected DUI offender for one year for failing to submit to a chemical test if the driver was in a motor vehicle accident that caused serious personal injury or death to another. Passed both chambers.

(Crotty, D-Oak Forest; Mell, D-Chicago) allows the secretary of state to suspend the driver's license of a suspected DUI offender for failing to submit to a chemical test if the driver was in a motor vehicle accident that caused serious personal injury or death to another. It will also cause disqualification of the driver's license to drive a commercial motor vehicle if the person is a CDL holder. 'The driver does have a right to a judicial hearing after a summary revocation and may apply to have his or her driving privileges reinstated after one year after revocation and provides for license reinstatement fees.