Public Act 098-0451
 
HB2776 EnrolledLRB098 08780 MLW 38906 b

    AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
    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 changing
Section 12-603.1 as follows:
 
    (625 ILCS 5/12-603.1)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-603.1)
    Sec. 12-603.1. Driver and passenger required to use safety
belts, exceptions and penalty.
    (a) Each driver and passenger of a motor vehicle operated
on a street or highway in this State shall wear a properly
adjusted and fastened seat safety belt. A child less than 8
years of age shall be protected as required pursuant to the
Child Passenger Protection Act. Each driver of a motor vehicle
transporting a child 8 years of age or more, but less than 16
years of age, shall secure the child in a properly adjusted and
fastened seat safety belt as required under the Child Passenger
Protection Act. Each driver of a motor vehicle transporting a
passenger who is unable, due to infirmity, illness, or age, to
properly adjust and fasten a seat safety belt and is not
exempted from wearing a seat safety belt under subsection (b)
shall secure the passenger in a properly adjusted and fastened
seat safety belt as required under this Section.
    (b) Paragraph (a) shall not apply to any of the following:
        1. A driver or passenger frequently stopping and
    leaving the vehicle or delivering property from the
    vehicle, if the speed of the vehicle between stops does not
    exceed 15 miles per hour.
        2. A driver or passenger possessing a written statement
    from a physician that such person is unable, for medical or
    physical reasons, to wear a seat safety belt.
        3. A driver or passenger possessing an official
    certificate or license endorsement issued by the
    appropriate agency in another state or country indicating
    that the driver is unable for medical, physical, or other
    valid reasons to wear a seat safety belt.
        4. A driver operating a motor vehicle in reverse.
        5. A motor vehicle with a model year prior to 1965.
        6. A motorcycle or motor driven cycle.
        7. A moped.
        8. A motor vehicle which is not required to be equipped
    with seat safety belts under federal law.
        9. A motor vehicle operated by a rural letter carrier
    of the United States postal service while performing duties
    as a rural letter carrier.
        10. A driver or passenger of an authorized emergency
    vehicle, except this exception does not apply to vehicles
    of the fire department; vehicles of the Office of the State
    Fire Marshal; or ambulances, unless the delivery of
    life-saving measures prohibits the use of a seat safety
    belt.
        11. A back seat passenger of a taxicab.
    (c) Failure to wear a seat safety belt in violation of this
Section shall not be considered evidence of negligence, shall
not limit the liability of an insurer, and shall not diminish
any recovery for damages arising out of the ownership,
maintenance, or operation of a motor vehicle.
    (d) A violation of this Section shall be a petty offense
and subject to a fine not to exceed $25.
    (e) (Blank).
    (f) A law enforcement officer may not search or inspect a
motor vehicle, its contents, the driver, or a passenger solely
because of a violation of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 96-554, eff. 1-1-10; 96-991, eff. 1-1-11; 97-16,
eff. 1-1-12; 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.