94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB1555

 

Introduced 2/10/2005, by Rep. John D'Amico

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
625 ILCS 5/11-605.3 new

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Establishes speed limits for park zones where children are present. Provides that (i) exceeding the posted speed limit while passing a park zone or in an area where children are going to or coming from a park zone or (ii) failure to come to a complete stop at a stop sign or signal, including a signal at which a right turn on red is permitted, in an area where a park zone speed limit applies, is a violation of the new provision. Provides that a violation of the new provision is a petty offense with a minimum fine of $250 for a first offense and $500 for a second or subsequent offense. Provides that the violator shall be charged an additional $50, to be paid to the park district for safety purposes.


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A BILL FOR

 

HB1555 LRB094 07628 DRH 37800 b

1     AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
 
2     WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly finds that laws
3 protecting school-age children with legislation limiting speed
4 limits near schools has successfully protected Illinois
5 children for decades, and a considerable number of recreational
6 facilities in Illinois often border or are in close proximity
7 to educational facilities and do not have the same protections
8 afforded to educational facilities; and
 
9     WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly finds that ensuring
10 Safe Streets near educational and recreational facilities is a
11 goal requiring the full attention of this General Assembly and
12 the full cooperation of the federal, State, and local units of
13 government and their respective executive departments and
14 agencies; therefore
 
15     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
16 represented in the General Assembly:
 
17     Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by adding
18 Section 11-605.3 as follows:
 
19     (625 ILCS 5/11-605.3 new)
20     Sec. 11-605.3. Special traffic protections while passing
21 parks and recreation facilities and areas.    
22     (a) As used in this Section:
23         (1) "Park district" means the following entities:
24             (A) any park district organized under The Park
25         District Code;
26             (B) any park district organized under The Chicago
27         Park District Act; and
28             (C) any municipality, county, forest preserve
29         district, school district, township, or other unit of
30         local government that operates a public recreation

 

 

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1         department or public recreation facilities that has
2         recreation facilities that are not on land owned by any
3         park district listed in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of
4         this subdivision (a)(1).
5         (2) "Park zone" means the recreation facilities and
6     areas on any land owned or operated by a park district that
7     is used for recreational purposes, or for access to those
8     recreational areas, including but not limited to: parks;
9     playgrounds; swimming pools; hiking trails; bicycle paths;
10     picnic areas; roads and streets; and parking lots.
11         (3) "Safety purposes" means the costs associated with:
12     park zone safety education; the purchase, installation,
13     and maintenance of signs, roadway painting, and caution
14     lights mounted on park zone signs; and any other expense
15     associated with this Section.
16     (b) On any day when children are present and so close to
17 motorized traffic that a potential hazard exists, a person may
18 not drive a motor vehicle at a speed in excess of 20 miles per
19 hour (i) while passing a park zone or (ii) while traveling on a
20 roadway on public property or upon any public thoroughfare
21 where children are going to and from recreation facilities and
22 areas located in a park zone.
23     (c) On any day when children are present and so close to
24 motorized traffic that a potential hazard exists, failure to
25 come to a complete stop at a stop sign or other traffic control
26 device, including failure to come to a complete stop before a
27 right turn otherwise permitted at a red light, is a violation
28 of this Section.
29     (d) Nothing in this Chapter prohibits the use of electronic
30 speed detecting devices within 500 feet of signs within a
31 special park zone indicating that zone. Evidence obtained
32 through use of those devices is admissible in any prosecution
33 for speeding or failing to stop at a traffic control device or
34 stop sign, if the device is used only for enforcement within
35 the special park zone.
36     (e) This Section does not apply unless appropriate signs

 

 

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1 are posted upon streets and highways maintained by the
2 Department or by the unit of local government in which the park
3 zone is located. With regard to the special speed limit while
4 passing park zones, the signs must give proper due warning that
5 a park zone is being approached and must indicate the park zone
6 and the maximum speed limit.
7     (f) A first violation of this Section is a petty offense
8 with a minimum fine of $250. A second or subsequent violation
9 of this Section is a petty offense with a minimum fine of $500.
10     (h) When a fine for a violation of subsection (a) is $250
11 or greater, the person who violates this Section shall be
12 charged an additional $50, to be paid to the park district for
13 safety purposes.