95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB6332

 

Introduced , by Rep. Dennis M. Reboletti

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
605 ILCS 10/10   from Ch. 121, par. 100-10

    Amends the Toll Highway Act. Creates an amnesty program for toll violations under which a person who has an outstanding notice of violation for toll evasion or a final order of a hearing officer for toll evasion dated before the effective date of the amendatory Act and who pays to the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority specified percentage amounts remaining due on the notice of violation or final order of the hearing officer and the full fees and costs paid by the Authority to the Secretary of State relating to suspension proceedings within the specified time period is not required to pay more than the listed percentage of the original fine amount and outstanding toll and the full fees and costs paid by the Authority to the Secretary of State relating to suspension proceedings, if applicable. Sets out the payment percentage scale. Provides that the Authority shall waive any late fine amount above the applicable percentage of the original fine amount. Sets out conditions for receiving the amnesty. Provides that the Authority shall issue a refund to any person who made a payment to the Authority during a specified period for a violation that, had it not been made during that period, could have been satisfied through an amnesty payment, and adds various requirements regarding those refunds. Requires the Authority to send a toll violation notice to the registered owner of a vehicle within 30 days after a violation occurred and provides that the Authority may not charge penalties on a civil fine if it fails to do so. Provides that an additional fine or penalty for late payment may not be imposed until 60 days have elapsed after notice of a final order of liability for a violation detected using the Authority's video or photo surveillance system. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1     AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Toll Highway Act is amended by changing
5 Section 10 as follows:
 
6     (605 ILCS 10/10)  (from Ch. 121, par. 100-10)
7     Sec. 10. The Authority shall have power:
8     (a) To pass resolutions, make by-laws, rules and
9 regulations for the management, regulation and control of its
10 affairs, and to fix tolls, and to make, enact and enforce all
11 needful rules and regulations in connection with the
12 construction, operation, management, care, regulation or
13 protection of its property or any toll highways, constructed or
14 reconstructed hereunder.
15     (a-5) To fix, assess, and collect civil fines for a
16 vehicle's operation on a toll highway without the required toll
17 having been paid. The Authority may establish by rule a system
18 of civil administrative adjudication to adjudicate only
19 alleged instances of a vehicle's operation on a toll highway
20 without the required toll having been paid, as detected by the
21 Authority's video or photo surveillance system. In cases in
22 which the operator of the vehicle is not the registered vehicle
23 owner, the establishment of ownership of the vehicle creates a

 

 

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1 rebuttable presumption that the vehicle was being operated by
2 an agent of the registered vehicle owner. If the registered
3 vehicle owner liable for a violation under this Section was not
4 the operator of the vehicle at the time of the violation, the
5 owner may maintain an action for indemnification against the
6 operator in the circuit court. Rules establishing a system of
7 civil administrative adjudication must provide for written
8 notice, by first class mail or other means provided by law, to
9 the address of the registered owner of the cited vehicle as
10 recorded with the Secretary of State or to the lessee of the
11 cited vehicle at the last address known to the lessor of the
12 cited vehicle at the time of the lease, of the alleged
13 violation and an opportunity to be heard on the question of the
14 violation and must provide for the establishment of a toll-free
15 telephone number to receive inquiries concerning alleged
16 violations. The notice shall also inform the registered vehicle
17 owner that failure to contest in the manner and time provided
18 shall be deemed an admission of liability and that a final
19 order of liability may be entered on that admission. A duly
20 authorized agent of the Authority may perform or execute the
21 preparation, certification, affirmation, or mailing of the
22 notice. A notice of violation, sworn or affirmed to or
23 certified by a duly authorized agent of the Authority, or a
24 facsimile of the notice, based upon an inspection of
25 photographs, microphotographs, videotape, or other recorded
26 images produced by a video or photo surveillance system, shall

 

 

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1 be admitted as prima facie evidence of the correctness of the
2 facts contained in the notice or facsimile. Only civil fines,
3 along with the corresponding outstanding toll, and costs may be
4 imposed by administrative adjudication. A fine may be imposed
5 under this paragraph only if a violation is established by a
6 preponderance of the evidence. Judicial review of all final
7 orders of the Authority under this paragraph shall be conducted
8 in the circuit court of the county in which the administrative
9 decision was rendered in accordance with the Administrative
10 Review Law.
11     Any outstanding toll, fine, additional late payment fine,
12 other sanction, or costs imposed, or part of any fine, other
13 sanction, or costs imposed, remaining unpaid after the
14 exhaustion of, or the failure to exhaust, judicial review
15 procedures under the Administrative Review Law are a debt due
16 and owing the Authority and may be collected in accordance with
17 applicable law. After expiration of the period in which
18 judicial review under the Administrative Review Law may be
19 sought, unless stayed by a court of competent jurisdiction, a
20 final order of the Authority under this subsection (a-5) may be
21 enforced in the same manner as a judgment entered by a court of
22 competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any other provision of
23 this Act, the Authority may, with the approval of the Attorney
24 General, retain a law firm or law firms with expertise in the
25 collection of government fines and debts for the purpose of
26 collecting fines, costs, and other moneys due under this

 

 

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1 subsection (a-5).
2     A system of civil administrative adjudication may also
3 provide for a program of vehicle immobilization, tow, or
4 impoundment for the purpose of facilitating enforcement of any
5 final order or orders of the Authority under this subsection
6 (a-5) that result in a finding or liability for 5 or more
7 violations after expiration of the period in which judicial
8 review under the Administrative Review Law may be sought. The
9 registered vehicle owner of a vehicle immobilized, towed, or
10 impounded for nonpayment of a final order of the Authority
11 under this subsection (a-5) shall have the right to request a
12 hearing before the Authority's civil administrative
13 adjudicatory system to challenge the validity of the
14 immobilization, tow, or impoundment. This hearing, however,
15 shall not constitute a readjudication of the merits of
16 previously adjudicated notices. Judicial review of all final
17 orders of the Authority under this subsection (a-5) shall be
18 conducted in the circuit court of the county in which the
19 administrative decision was rendered in accordance with the
20 Administrative Review Law.
21     No commercial entity that is the lessor of a vehicle under
22 a written lease agreement shall be liable for an administrative
23 notice of violation for toll evasion issued under this
24 subsection (a-5) involving that vehicle during the period of
25 the lease if the lessor provides a copy of the leasing
26 agreement to the Authority within 21 days of the issue date on

 

 

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1 the notice of violation. The leasing agreement also must
2 contain a provision or addendum informing the lessee that the
3 lessee is liable for payment of all tolls and any fines for
4 toll evasion. Each entity must also post a sign at the leasing
5 counter notifying the lessee of that liability. The copy of the
6 leasing agreement provided to the Authority must contain the
7 name, address, and driver's license number of the lessee, as
8 well as the check-out and return dates and times of the vehicle
9 and the vehicle license plate number and vehicle make and
10 model.
11     As used in this subsection (a-5), "lessor" includes
12 commercial leasing and rental entities but does not include
13 public passenger vehicle entities.
14     The Authority shall establish an amnesty program for
15 violations adjudicated under this subsection (a-5). Under the
16 program, any person who has an outstanding notice of violation
17 for toll evasion or a final order of a hearing officer for toll
18 evasion dated prior to the effective date of this amendatory
19 Act of the 94th General Assembly and who pays to the Authority
20 the full percentage amounts listed in this paragraph remaining
21 due on the notice of violation or final order of the hearing
22 officer and the full fees and costs paid by the Authority to
23 the Secretary of State relating to suspension proceedings, if
24 applicable, on or before 5:00 p.m., Central Standard Time, of
25 the 60th day after the effective date of this amendatory Act of
26 the 94th General Assembly shall not be required to pay more

 

 

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1 than the listed percentage of the original fine amount and
2 outstanding toll as listed on the notice of violation or final
3 order of the hearing officer and the full fees and costs paid
4 by the Authority to the Secretary of State relating to
5 suspension proceedings, if applicable. The payment percentage
6 scale shall be as follows: a person with 25 or fewer violations
7 shall be eligible for amnesty upon payment of 50% of the
8 original fine amount and the outstanding tolls; a person with
9 more than 25 but fewer than 51 violations shall be eligible for
10 amnesty upon payment of 60% of the original fine amount and the
11 outstanding tolls; and a person with 51 or more violations
12 shall be eligible for amnesty upon payment of 75% of the
13 original fine amount and the outstanding tolls. In such a
14 situation, the Executive Director of the Authority or his or
15 her designee is authorized and directed to waive any late fine
16 amount above the applicable percentage of the original fine
17 amount. Partial payment of the amount due shall not be a basis
18 to extend the amnesty payment deadline nor shall it act to
19 relieve the person of liability for payment of the late fine
20 amount. In order to receive amnesty, the full amount of the
21 applicable percentage of the original fine amount and
22 outstanding toll remaining due on the notice of violation or
23 final order of the hearing officer and the full fees and costs
24 paid by the Authority to the Secretary of State relating to
25 suspension proceedings, if applicable, must be paid in full by
26 5:00 p.m., Central Standard Time, of the 60th day after the

 

 

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1 effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General
2 Assembly. This amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly has
3 no retroactive effect with regard to payments already tendered
4 to the Authority that were full payments or payments in an
5 amount greater than the applicable percentage, and this Act
6 shall not be the basis for either a refund or a credit. This
7 amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly does not apply to
8 toll evasion citations issued by the Illinois State Police or
9 other authorized law enforcement agencies and for which payment
10 may be due to or through the clerk of the circuit court. The
11 Authority shall adopt rules as necessary to implement the
12 provisions of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.
13     The Authority shall establish an amnesty program for
14 violations adjudicated under this subsection (a-5). Under the
15 program, any person who has an outstanding notice of violation
16 for toll evasion or a final order of a hearing officer for toll
17 evasion dated prior to the effective date of this amendatory
18 Act of the 95th General Assembly and who pays to the Authority
19 the full percentage amounts listed in this paragraph remaining
20 due on the notice of violation or final order of the hearing
21 officer and the full fees and costs paid by the Authority to
22 the Secretary of State relating to suspension proceedings, if
23 applicable, on or before 5:00 p.m., Central Standard Time, of
24 the 90th day after the effective date of this amendatory Act of
25 the 95th General Assembly shall not be required to pay more
26 than the listed percentage of the original fine amount and

 

 

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1 outstanding toll as listed on the notice of violation or final
2 order of the hearing officer and the full fees and costs paid
3 by the Authority to the Secretary of State relating to
4 suspension proceedings, if applicable. The payment percentage
5 scale shall be as follows: a person with 25 or fewer violations
6 shall be eligible for amnesty upon payment of 25% of the
7 original fine amount and the outstanding tolls; a person with
8 more than 25 but fewer than 51 violations shall be eligible for
9 amnesty upon payment of 50% of the original fine amount and the
10 outstanding tolls; and a person with 51 or more violations
11 shall be eligible for amnesty upon payment of 75% of the
12 original fine amount and the outstanding tolls. In such a
13 situation, the Executive Director of the Authority or his or
14 her designee is authorized and directed to waive any late fine
15 amount above the applicable percentage of the original fine
16 amount. Partial payment of the amount due shall not be a basis
17 to extend the amnesty payment deadline nor shall it act to
18 relieve the person of liability for payment of the late fine
19 amount. In order to receive amnesty, the full amount of the
20 applicable percentage of the original fine amount and
21 outstanding toll remaining due on the notice of violation or
22 final order of the hearing officer and the full fees and costs
23 paid by the Authority to the Secretary of State relating to
24 suspension proceedings, if applicable, must be paid in full by
25 5:00 p.m., Central Standard Time, of the 90th day after the
26 effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General

 

 

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1 Assembly.
2     The Authority shall issue a refund to any person who made a
3 payment to the Authority at any time from August 1, 2007
4 through the day immediately preceding the effective date of
5 this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly for a
6 violation that, had it not been made during that period, could
7 have been satisfied through an amnesty payment under the
8 amnesty program established under this amendatory Act of the
9 95th General Assembly. The amount of each such refund shall be
10 the difference between what the person actually paid and the
11 amnesty payment that would have been required under the amnesty
12 program. The Authority shall issue all such refunds within 2
13 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
14 95th General Assembly, and if the Authority is unable to
15 contact a person to whom it owes such a refund, it shall remit
16 the funds to the State Treasurer as unclaimed property.
17     This amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly does not
18 apply to toll evasion citations issued by the Illinois State
19 Police or other authorized law enforcement agencies and for
20 which payment may be due to or through the clerk of the circuit
21 court. The Authority shall adopt rules as necessary to
22 implement the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 95th
23 General Assembly.
24     The Authority, by a resolution of the Board of Directors,
25 shall have the discretion to implement similar amnesty programs
26 in the future. The Authority, at its discretion and in

 

 

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1 consultation with the Attorney General, is further authorized
2 to settle an administrative fine or penalty if it determines
3 that settling for less than the full amount is in the best
4 interests of the Authority after taking into account the
5 following factors: (1) the merits of the Authority's claim
6 against the respondent; (2) the amount that can be collected
7 relative to the administrative fine or penalty owed by the
8 respondent; (3) the cost of pursuing further enforcement or
9 collection action against the respondent; (4) the likelihood of
10 collecting the full amount owed; and (5) the burden on the
11 judiciary. The provisions in this Section may be extended to
12 other toll facilities in the State of Illinois through a duly
13 executed agreement between the Authority and the operator of
14 the toll facility.
15     The Authority must send a toll violation notice to the
16 registered owner of a vehicle at the address on the plate
17 registration within 30 days after the violation occurred. If
18 the Authority fails to so notify the owner under this
19 paragraph, then the Authority may not charge penalties on any
20 civil fine that the individual is required to pay under this
21 Section.
22     In the case of a fine for a violation detected using the
23 Authority's video or photo surveillance system, an additional
24 fine or penalty for late payment of the fine may not be imposed
25 until 60 days have elapsed after notice of a final order of
26 liability.

 

 

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1     (b) To prescribe rules and regulations applicable to
2 traffic on highways under the jurisdiction of the Authority,
3 concerning:
4         (1) Types of vehicles permitted to use such highways or
5     parts thereof, and classification of such vehicles;
6         (2) Designation of the lanes of traffic to be used by
7     the different types of vehicles permitted upon said
8     highways;
9         (3) Stopping, standing, and parking of vehicles;
10         (4) Control of traffic by means of police officers or
11     traffic control signals;
12         (5) Control or prohibition of processions, convoys,
13     and assemblages of vehicles and persons;
14         (6) Movement of traffic in one direction only on
15     designated portions of said highways;
16         (7) Control of the access, entrance, and exit of
17     vehicles and persons to and from said highways; and
18         (8) Preparation, location and installation of all
19     traffic signs; and to prescribe further rules and
20     regulations applicable to such traffic, concerning matters
21     not provided for either in the foregoing enumeration or in
22     the Illinois Vehicle Code. Notice of such rules and
23     regulations shall be posted conspicuously and displayed at
24     appropriate points and at reasonable intervals along said
25     highways, by clearly legible markers or signs, to provide
26     notice of the existence of such rules and regulations to

 

 

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1     persons traveling on said highways. At each toll station,
2     the Authority shall make available, free of charge,
3     pamphlets containing all of such rules and regulations.
4     (c) The Authority, in fixing the rate for tolls for the
5 privilege of using the said toll highways, is authorized and
6 directed, in fixing such rates, to base the same upon annual
7 estimates to be made, recorded and filed with the Authority.
8 Said estimates shall include the following: The estimated total
9 amount of the use of the toll highways; the estimated amount of
10 the revenue to be derived therefrom, which said revenue, when
11 added to all other receipts and income, will be sufficient to
12 pay the expense of maintaining and operating said toll
13 highways, including the administrative expenses of the
14 Authority, and to discharge all obligations of the Authority as
15 they become due and payable.
16     (d) To accept from any municipality or political
17 subdivision any lands, easements or rights in land needed for
18 the operation, construction, relocation or maintenance of any
19 toll highways, with or without payment therefor, and in its
20 discretion to reimburse any such municipality or political
21 subdivision out of its funds for any cost or expense incurred
22 in the acquisition of land, easements or rights in land, in
23 connection with the construction and relocation of the said
24 toll highways, widening, extending roads, streets or avenues in
25 connection therewith, or for the construction of any roads or
26 streets forming extension to and connections with or between

 

 

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1 any toll highways, or for the cost or expense of widening,
2 grading, surfacing or improving any existing streets or roads
3 or the construction of any streets and roads forming extensions
4 of or connections with any toll highways constructed,
5 relocated, operated, maintained or regulated hereunder by the
6 Authority. Where property owned by a municipality or political
7 subdivision is necessary to the construction of an approved
8 toll highway, if the Authority cannot reach an agreement with
9 such municipality or political subdivision and if the use to
10 which the property is being put in the hands of the
11 municipality or political subdivision is not essential to the
12 existence or the administration of such municipality or
13 political subdivision, the Authority may acquire the property
14 by condemnation.
15 (Source: P.A. 94-636, eff. 8-22-05.)
 
16     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
17 becoming law.