100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB5491

 

Introduced , by Rep. Joe Sosnowski

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
625 ILCS 5/6-109

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Deletes language that requires an applicant who is 75 years or older to give an actual demonstration of the applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control of the safe operation of a motor vehicle.


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A BILL FOR

 

HB5491LRB100 17137 LNS 32289 b

1    AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing
5Section 6-109 as follows:
 
6    (625 ILCS 5/6-109)
7    Sec. 6-109. Examination of Applicants.
8    (a) The Secretary of State shall examine every applicant
9for a driver's license or permit who has not been previously
10licensed as a driver under the laws of this State or any other
11state or country, or any applicant for renewal of such driver's
12license or permit when such license or permit has been expired
13for more than one year. The Secretary of State shall, subject
14to the provisions of paragraph (c), examine every licensed
15driver at least every 8 years, and may examine or re-examine
16any other applicant or licensed driver, provided that during
17the years 1984 through 1991 those drivers issued a license for
183 years may be re-examined not less than every 7 years or more
19than every 10 years.
20    The Secretary of State shall require the testing of the
21eyesight of any driver's license or permit applicant who has
22not been previously licensed as a driver under the laws of this
23State and shall promulgate rules and regulations to provide for

 

 

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1the orderly administration of all the provisions of this
2Section.
3    The Secretary of State shall include at least one test
4question that concerns the provisions of the Pedestrians with
5Disabilities Safety Act in the question pool used for the
6written portion of the drivers license examination within one
7year after July 22, 2010 (the effective date of Public Act
896-1167).
9    (b) Except as provided for those applicants in paragraph
10(c), such examination shall include a test of the applicant's
11eyesight, his ability to read and understand official traffic
12control devices, his knowledge of safe driving practices and
13the traffic laws of this State, and may include an actual
14demonstration of the applicant's ability to exercise ordinary
15and reasonable control of the operation of a motor vehicle, and
16such further physical and mental examination as the Secretary
17of State finds necessary to determine the applicant's fitness
18to operate a motor vehicle safely on the highways, except the
19examination of an applicant 75 years of age or older shall
20include an actual demonstration of the applicant's ability to
21exercise ordinary and reasonable control of the operation of a
22motor vehicle. All portions of written and verbal examinations
23under this Section, excepting where the English language
24appears on facsimiles of road signs, may be given in the
25Spanish language and, at the discretion of the Secretary of
26State, in any other language as well as in English upon request

 

 

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1of the examinee. Deaf persons who are otherwise qualified are
2not prohibited from being issued a license, other than a
3commercial driver's license, under this Code.
4    (c) Re-examination for those applicants who at the time of
5renewing their driver's license possess a driving record devoid
6of any convictions of traffic violations or evidence of
7committing an offense for which mandatory revocation would be
8required upon conviction pursuant to Section 6-205 at the time
9of renewal shall be in a manner prescribed by the Secretary in
10order to determine an applicant's ability to safely operate a
11motor vehicle, except that every applicant for the renewal of a
12driver's license who is 75 years of age or older must prove, by
13an actual demonstration, the applicant's ability to exercise
14reasonable care in the safe operation of a motor vehicle.
15    (d) In the event the applicant is not ineligible under the
16provisions of Section 6-103 to receive a driver's license, the
17Secretary of State shall make provision for giving an
18examination, either in the county where the applicant resides
19or at a place adjacent thereto reasonably convenient to the
20applicant, within not more than 30 days from the date said
21application is received.
22    (e) The Secretary of State may adopt rules regarding the
23use of foreign language interpreters during the application and
24examination process.
25(Source: P.A. 96-1167, eff. 7-22-10; 96-1231, eff. 7-23-10;
2697-333, eff. 8-12-11.)