SB1694 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 11099 AJT 21446 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB1694

Introduced 2/19/2009, by Sen. John J. Millner

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

625 ILCS 5/11-503.5 new

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Creates the offense of distracted driving, which a person commits by operating a motor vehicle in violation of a law or ordinance governing the movement of vehicles while also engaging in certain activities. Provides that a law enforcement officer may charge a person with distracted driving if the officer (i) has stopped the person for any violation of a law or ordinance governing the movement of vehicles and (ii) determines that the person was driving while distracted. Specifies that distracted driving may not be recorded on a person's driving record, but requires a person who has committed distracted driving to pay an additional fine equivalent to the amount of the fine for the underlying offense that he or she committed.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning vehicles.

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 11-503.5 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/11-503.5 new)

Sec. 11-503.5. Distracted driving.

(a) A person commits distracted driving when he or she operates a motor vehicle while (i) engaging in text messaging, (ii) reading a newspaper, book, magazine, or map, (iii) engaged in an act of personal grooming, and the operation of the motor vehicle is in violation of a law or ordinance governing the movement of vehicles.

(b) A law enforcement officer may charge a person with distracted driving under this Section if the officer has stopped the person for any violation of a law or ordinance governing the movement of vehicles and if the officer determines that the driver was driving while distracted; however, the offense of distracted driving is not deemed to be a violation of a law or ordinance governing the movement of vehicles and may not be recorded on the driving record of the driver of the vehicle.

(c) Any person found in violation of subsection (a) of this Section is subject to an additional fine equivalent to the amount of the fine for the underlying offense that he or she committed.