SB1483 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 04142 DRH 24180 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB1483

Introduced 2/9/2007, by Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

625 ILCS 5/11-1307 new

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides for the issuance of a member of the clergy parking device to a qualified member of the clergy. Establishes procedures for qualification under the provision. Provides that the member of the clergy has parking privileges similar to those afforded vehicles displaying plates issued to a person with disabilities, except that the member of the clergy has these privileges only on streets and highways in a residence district or within 200 feet of a nursing home, hospital, or correctional facility, and in residential parking lots and parking lots leased, owned, or operated by a nursing home, hospital, or correctional facility.

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 adding Section 11-1307 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/11-1307 new)

Sec. 11-1307. Members of the clergy; parking privileges.

(a) As used in this Section, "member of the clergy" means a clergyman or practitioner of any religious denomination accredited by the religious body to which he or she belongs.

(b) A member of the clergy, upon producing to the Secretary of State, credentials of his being a regularly ordained or licensed member of the clergy of any religious society or congregation, shall be entitled to receive from the Secretary of State a license granting him or her parking privileges in accordance with this Section so long as he or she continues as a regular member of the clergy in that society or congregation.

(c) The Secretary of State shall enter the name of a member of the clergy licensed to park his or her vehicle in accordance with this Section in a record kept in the Office of the Secretary of State. The record of the member of the clergy's name in the Office of the Secretary of State and the license issued under subsection (b) of this Section shall be evidence that the member of the clergy is licensed to park in accordance with this Section.

(d) The Secretary of State shall provide for, by administrative rules, the design, size, color, and placement of a member of the clergy parking device and shall provide for, by administrative rules, the content and form of an application for a member of the clergy parking device and for the license provided for in subsection (b). The application shall include the requirement of an Illinois Identification Card number or a State of Illinois driver's license number. The device shall be the property of the member of the clergy and may be used by that person to designate and identify a vehicle being used to transport the member of the clergy. Devices issued and displayed pursuant to this Section shall be recognized and honored by all local authorities.

(e) The Secretary of State may issue a member of the clergy device to a person issued a license under subsection (b). Any member of the clergy parking device issued by the Secretary of State shall be registered to that member of the clergy in the form to be prescribed by the Secretary of State. The member of the clergy parking device shall not display that person's address. One additional device may be issued to an applicant upon his or her written request and with the approval of the Secretary of State. The written request must include a justification of the need for the additional device.

(f) Replacement devices may be issued for lost, stolen, or destroyed devices upon application and payment of a $10 fee.

(g) A motor vehicle bearing a member of the clergy parking device shall be exempt from the payment of parking meter fees and exempt from any statute or ordinance imposing time limitations on parking, except limitations of one-half hour or less, on any street or highway zone in a residence district or within 200 feet of a nursing home, hospital, or correctional facility, in any residential parking lot or in any parking lot or parking place leased, owned, or operated by a nursing home, hospital, or correctional facility. The vehicle shall, however, be subject to the laws which prohibit parking in "no stopping" and "no standing" zones in front of or near fire hydrants, driveways, public building entrances and exits, bus stops and loading areas. The vehicle is prohibited from parking where the motor vehicle constitutes a traffic hazard, whereby the vehicle shall be moved at the instruction and request of a law enforcement officer to a location designated by the officer. Any motor vehicle bearing a member of the clergy parking device may park, in addition to any other lawful place, in any parking place specifically reserved for such vehicles by the posting of an official sign. Parking privileges granted by this Section are strictly limited to the member of the clergy to whom the device was issued and to qualified operators acting under his or her express direction while the member of the clergy is present. A person to whom privileges were granted shall, at the request of a police officer or any other person invested by law with authority to direct, control, or regulate traffic, present an identification card with a picture as verification that the person is the person to whom the member of the clergy parking device was issued.

(h) The parking privileges granted by this Section are also extended to motor vehicles of not-for-profit organizations used for the transportation of members of the clergy when such motor vehicles display the member of the clergy parking device.

(i) No person shall use any area for the parking of any motor vehicle pursuant to Section 11-1303 of this Code or where an official sign controlling the area expressly prohibits parking at any time or during certain hours.