HB0408 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 06388 DRH 26485 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB0408

Introduced 01/26/07, by Rep. David R. Leitch - Roger L. Eddy

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

625 ILCS 5/6-107	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-107
625 ILCS 5/6-107.1

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a minor holding an instruction permit or a graduated driver's license must display on any vehicle he or she is driving a sign or signs, approved by the Secretary of State, indicating that the vehicle is being driven by a new driver. Provides that the Secretary of State shall adopt rules for implementing the new provisions. Provides that the rules shall address the issue of whether a fee shall be charged for obtaining the sign or signs and the amount of the fee, if any.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

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 Sections 6-107 and 6-107.1 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/6-107) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-107)

Sec. 6-107. Graduated license.

(a) The purpose of the Graduated Licensing Program is to develop safe and mature driving habits in young, inexperienced drivers and reduce or prevent motor vehicle accidents, fatalities, and injuries by:

(1) providing for an increase in the time of practice period before granting permission to obtain a driver's license;

(2) strengthening driver licensing and testing standards for persons under the age of 21 years;

(3) sanctioning driving privileges of drivers under age 21 who have committed serious traffic violations or other specified offenses; and

(4) setting stricter standards to promote the public's health and safety.

(b) The application of any person under the age of 18 years, and not legally emancipated by marriage, for a drivers license or permit to operate a motor vehicle issued under the laws of this State, shall be accompanied by the written consent of either parent of the applicant; otherwise by the guardian having custody of the applicant, or in the event there is no parent or guardian, then by another responsible adult. The written consent must accompany any application for a driver's license under this subsection (b), regardless of whether or not the required written consent also accompanied the person's previous application for an instruction permit.

No graduated driver's license shall be issued to any applicant under 18 years of age, unless the applicant is at least 16 years of age and has:

(1) Held a valid instruction permit for a minimum of 3 months.

(2) Passed an approved driver education course and submits proof of having passed the course as may be required.

(3) Certification by the parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult that the applicant has had a minimum of 50 hours of behind-the-wheel practice time, at least 10 hours of which have been at night, and is sufficiently prepared and able to safely operate a motor vehicle.

(b-1) No graduated driver's license shall be issued to any applicant who is under 18 years of age and not legally emancipated by marriage, unless the applicant has graduated from a secondary school of this State or any other state, is enrolled in a course leading to a general educational development (GED) certificate, has obtained a GED certificate, is enrolled in an elementary or secondary school or college or university of this State or any other state and is not a chronic or habitual truant as provided in Section 26-2a of the School Code, or is receiving home instruction and submits proof of meeting any of those requirements at the time of application.

An applicant under 18 years of age who provides proof acceptable to the Secretary that the applicant has resumed regular school attendance or home instruction or that his or her application was denied in error shall be eligible to receive a graduated license if other requirements are met. The Secretary shall adopt rules for implementing this subsection (b-1).

(c) No graduated driver's license or permit shall be issued to any applicant under 18 years of age who has committed the offense of operating a motor vehicle without a valid license or permit in violation of Section 6-101 of this Code and no graduated driver's license or permit shall be issued to any applicant under 18 years of age who has committed an offense that would otherwise result in a mandatory revocation of a license or permit as provided in Section 6-205 of this Code or who has been either convicted of or adjudicated a delinquent based upon a violation of the Cannabis Control Act, the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, or the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act while that individual was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle. For purposes of this Section, any person placed on probation under Section 10 of the Cannabis Control Act, Section 410 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, or Section 70 of the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act shall not be considered convicted. Any person found guilty of this offense, while in actual physical control of a motor vehicle, shall have an entry made in the court record by the judge that this offense did occur while the person was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle and order the clerk of the court to report the violation to the Secretary of State as such.

(d) No graduated driver's license shall be issued for 6 months to any applicant under the age of 18 years who has been convicted of any offense defined as a serious traffic violation in this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance.

(e) No graduated driver's license holder under the age of 18 years shall operate any motor vehicle, except a motor driven cycle or motorcycle, with more than one passenger in the front seat of the motor vehicle and no more passengers in the back seats than the number of available seat safety belts as set forth in Section 12-603 of this Code.

(f) No graduated driver's license holder under the age of 18 shall operate a motor vehicle unless each driver and passenger under the age of 19 is wearing a properly adjusted and fastened seat safety belt and each child under the age of 8 is protected as required under the Child Passenger Protection Act.

(g) If a graduated driver's license holder is under the age of 18 when he or she receives the license, for the first 6 months he or she holds the license or until he or she reaches the age of 18, whichever occurs sooner, the graduated license holder may not operate a motor vehicle with more than one passenger in the vehicle who is under the age of 20, unless any additional passenger or passengers are siblings, step-siblings, children, or stepchildren of the driver.

(h) A person holding a graduated driver's license under this Section must display on any vehicle he or she is driving a sign or signs, approved by the Secretary of State, indicating that the vehicle is being driven by a new driver.

The Secretary shall adopt rules for implementing this subsection (h). The rules shall address, among other issues, the issue of whether a fee shall be charged for obtaining the sign or signs and the amount of the fee, if any.

(Source: P.A. 93-101, eff. 1-1-04; 93-788, eff. 1-1-05; 94-239, eff. 1-1-06; 94-241, eff. 1-1-06; 94-556, eff. 9-11-05; 94-897, eff. 6-22-06; 94-916, eff. 7-1-07; revised 8-3-06.)

(625 ILCS 5/6-107.1)

Sec. 6-107.1. Instruction permit for a minor.

(a) The Secretary of State, upon receiving proper application and payment of the required fee, may issue an instruction permit to any person under the age of 18 years who is not ineligible for a license under paragraphs 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, or 8 of Section 6-103, after the applicant has successfully passed such examination as the Secretary of State in his discretion may prescribe.

(1) An instruction permit issued under this Section shall be valid for a period of 24 months after the date of its issuance and shall be restricted, by the Secretary of State, to the operation of a motor vehicle by the minor only when accompanied by the adult instructor of a driver education program during enrollment in the program or when practicing with a parent, legal guardian, family member, or a person in loco parentis who is 21 years of age or more, has a license classification to operate such vehicle and at least one year of driving experience, and who is occupying a seat beside the driver.

(2) A 24 month instruction permit for a motor driven cycle may be issued to a person 16 or 17 years of age and entitles the holder to drive upon the highways during daylight under direct supervision of a licensed motor driven cycle operator or motorcycle operator 21 years of age or older who has a license classification to operate such motor driven cycle or motorcycle and at least one year of driving experience.

(3) A 24 month instruction permit for a motorcycle other than a motor driven cycle may be issued to a person 16 or 17 years of age in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 of Section 6-103 and entitles a holder to drive upon the highways during daylight under the direct supervision of a licensed motorcycle operator 21 years of age or older who has at least one year of driving experience.

(b) An instruction permit issued under this Section when issued to a person under the age of 17 years shall, as a matter of law, be invalid for the operation of any motor vehicle during the same time the child is prohibited from being on any street or highway under the provisions of the Child Curfew Act.

(b-1) No instruction permit shall be issued to any applicant who is under the age of 18 years and who has been certified to be a chronic or habitual truant, as defined in Section 26-2a of the School Code.

An applicant under the age of 18 years who provides proof that he or she has resumed regular school attendance or that his or her application was denied in error shall be eligible to receive an instruction permit if other requirements are met. The Secretary shall adopt rules for implementing this subsection (b-1).

(c) Any person under the age of 16 years who possesses an instruction permit and whose driving privileges have been suspended or revoked under the provisions of this Code shall not be granted a Family Financial Responsibility Driving Permit or a Restricted Driving Permit.

(d) A person holding an instruction permit under this Section must display on any vehicle he or she is driving a sign or signs, approved by the Secretary of State, indicating that the vehicle is being driven by a new driver.

The Secretary shall adopt rules for implementing this subsection (d). The rules shall address, among other issues, the issue of whether a fee shall be charged for obtaining the sign or signs and the amount of the fee, if any.

(Source: P.A. 94-916, eff. 7-1-07.)