Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB5304

Creates the Highway Work Zone Safety Act. Establishes the Highway Work Zone Speed Control Pilot Program. Provides that the Program's purpose is to enforce the speed limits established for construction or maintenance speed zones. Requires the Department of Transportation to install and operate an automated traffic control system only when highway construction and maintenance is occurring and when workers are present. Requires the Department to conduct a public safety campaign and post signage to inform drivers about the use of an automated traffic control system that detects speeds in excess of a work zone speed limit. Requires an automated traffic control system used in the Program to undergo an annual calibration check performed by an independent calibration laboratory. Provides that the Department shall employ automated traffic control system operators to operate an automated traffic control system at a construction or maintenance speed zone. Enumerates the duties and training requirements of an automated traffic control system operator. Limits the use of a photograph or recorded image captured by an automated traffic control system. Creates a presumption that the owner of a motor vehicle that is the subject of a photograph or recorded image was operating the motor vehicle when the photograph or recorded image was obtained through an automated traffic control system. Allows the presumption to be rebutted if specified conditions are met. Grants rulemaking authority to the Department. Defines terms. Repeals the Automated Traffic Control Systems in Highway Construction or Maintenance Zones Act. Makes conforming changes.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that the Illinois State Police (rather than the Department of Transportation) shall establish and administer the Highway Work Zone Speed Control Pilot Program. Provides that the Illinois State Police (rather than the Department of Transportation) shall install and operate automated traffic control systems in highway construction and maintenance speed zones to detect violations of posted work zone speed limits (rather than when highway construction or maintenance is occurring and when workers are present). Provides that the Illinois State Police (rather than the Department of Transportation) shall conduct a public information campaign for the Program. Removes provisions regarding maintenance of automated traffic control systems. Provides that the Illinois State Police (rather than the Department of Transportation) shall employ automated traffic control system operators. Removes provisions regarding specified requirements, duties, and restrictions for automated traffic control system operators. Provides that the Illinois State Police may adopt rules to establish requirements, duties, or restrictions for automated traffic control system operators. Removes provisions regarding liability, defenses, and civil penalties for violations. Provides that a person who owns a motor vehicle that is identified by an automated traffic control system as operating in a construction or maintenance speed zone at a speed in excess of the posted speed limit is guilty of a civil law violation, with a fine of $100 to $200, with specifications regarding the fine. Provides that a person found to have committed a third or subsequent violation, and found to have failed to pay all fines and costs within 30 days, is guilty of a separate civil law violation. Removes provisions regarding administrative reporting requirements. Provides that the Illinois State Police may conduct procurement and adopt rules to implement and administer the Act (rather than the Department of Transportation shall adopt rules including rules establishing procedures for notices, hearings, and appeals). Removes the definitions of "Authority" and "Department". Makes technical and other changes. Effective January 1, 2027, except that provisions regarding procurement and rulemaking are effective immediately.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of House Amendment No. 1 with the following changes. Creates the Highway Work Zone Speed Control Program (rather than Highway Work Zone Speed Control Pilot Program). Provides that the Illinois Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Illinois State Police (rather than only the Illinois State Police), shall establish the Highway Work Zone Speed Control Program. Provides that the Illinois Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Illinois State Police and Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (rather than the Illinois State Police in coordination with the Department of Transportation and Illinois State Toll Highway Authority), shall administer the Program. Provides that the Illinois Department of Transportation (rather than the Illinois State Police) may enter into an agreement with a third-party vendor to assist in the administration of the program. Provides that the Illinois State Police in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Tollway Authority shall install, set up, and operate automated traffic control systems in certain areas (rather than the Illinois State Police shall install and operate automated traffic control systems in certain areas). Provides that the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Transportation may (rather than the Illinois State Police shall) conduct a public information campaign. Provides that signs indicating that work zone speeds are enforced by automated traffic control systems must be clearly posted in the areas where the systems are in use (rather than the Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Illinois State Police, shall post before the entrance to a construction or maintenance speed zone in which an automated traffic control system is in use signage indicating that the work zone speed limit is being monitored by an automated traffic control system). Provides that the Illinois Department of Transportation (rather than the Illinois State Police) shall employ automated traffic control system operators and may adopt rules necessary to establish requirements, duties, or restrictions concerning automated traffic control system operators. In a provision regarding a civil law violation and subsequent fine, provides that moneys designated for the Illinois Department of Transportation shall be remitted by the circuit court clerk within one month after receipt for deposit into the Transportation Safety Highway Hire-back Fund. Provides that a civil law violation under this Act to a motor vehicle rental or leasing company shall be dismissed if the company responds to the civil law violation within 30 days of the mailing with an affidavit of non-liability and a copy of the driver's license number, name, and address of the renter or lessee.

In a provision in House Amendment No. 2, provides that the Illinois State Police, in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, shall set up and operate (rather than install, set up, and operate) automated traffic control systems in highway construction and maintenance speed zones. Provides that certain tasks may or shall be completed before setting up (rather than installing) an automated traffic control system. Provides that the Illinois Department of Transportation or the Illinois State Police may (rather than the Illinois Department of Transportation shall) employ automated traffic control system operators.

×