Transportation

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the failure to wear a seat safety belt or the misuse of a seat safety belt by a driver or passenger of a motor vehicle may be considered evidence of negligence and may diminish any recovery from damages, but shall not limit the liability of an insurer.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, for each violation of a provision of the Code or a local ordinance recorded by an automated traffic law enforcement system, the county or municipality having jurisdiction shall issue a written notice of the violation to the registered owner of the vehicle who shall be liable for the violation unless otherwise provided. Provides that the notice shall be delivered to the registered vehicle owner within 30 days after the municipality or county confirms the identity of the owner of the vehicle (rather than 30 days after the Secretary of State notifies the municipality or county of the identity of the owner of the vehicle), but in no event later than 90 days after the violation. Provides that there shall be a rebuttable presumption that a school bus was stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging pupils and the visual signals were in operation on the school bus when recorded images produced by an automated traffic law enforcement system show: (1) an activated stop signal arm; and (2) an electronic indicator indicating activation of school bus visual signals. Provides that the motor vehicle owner is subject to a mandatory civil penalty of $300 (rather than a penalty not exceeding $150) for a first time violation or $1,000 (rather than a penalty not exceeding $500) for a second or subsequent violation.

Amends the Illinois Hazardous Materials Transportation Act and the Illinois Motor Carrier Safety Law of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Illinois State Police (rather than the Department of Transportation) shall administer and enforce the Illinois Hazardous Materials Transportation Act and the Illinois Motor Carrier Safety Law of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes related changes. Sets forth provisions concerning personnel and material transfers and requires transferred personnel to receive a background check and any additional screening requirements established by the Department. Makes conforming changes to the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Regulation Act. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Prohibits a person, firm, association, partnership, or corporation from operating a commercial driver training school (rather than a driver training school) or engage in the business of providing any Entry-Level Driver Training or Skills, Road, or Pretrip curriculum for commercial driving for no fee or for a fee involving (1) the driving of motor vehicles or (2) the preparation of an applicant for examination given by the Secretary of State for a driver's license or commercial learner's permit, unless a license therefore has been issued by the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to quarterly review the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Training Provider Registry and the listing of State licensed commercial driving schools. Provides that any person that violates any provision of the Act in relation to the requirements stated in the Code of Federal Regulations shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $50,000 for the violation and an additional civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each day during which the violation continues. Allows the State's Attorney of the county in which the violation occurred, the Attorney General, or the Secretary to institute a civil action for an injunction to restrain violations of the Act, any rule adopted under the Act, or any permit or term or condition of a permit or to require such other actions as may be necessary to address violations of the Act, any rule adopted under the Act, any permit or term or condition of a permit, or order. Provides that all funds collected shall be deposited into the Motor Carrier Safety Inspection Fund.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Establishes that a motor vehicle owner shall provide a liability policy and every such policy or bond is subject, if the motor vehicle crash has resulted in bodily injury or death, to a limit, exclusive of interest and costs, of not less than $50,000 (rather than $25,000) because of bodily injury to or death of any one person in any one motor vehicle crash and, subject to said limit for one person, to a limit of not less than $100,000 (rather $50,000) because of bodily injury to or death of 2 or more persons in any one motor vehicle crash, and, if the motor vehicle crash has resulted in injury to or destruction of property, to a limit of not less than $40,000 (rather than $20,000). Requires a motor vehicle owner or any person that maintains, uses, or operates a motor vehicle to furnish proof of financial responsibility in the amounts provided. Establishes that a judgment arising out of a motor vehicle crash is deemed satisfied once the specified policy amount is credited toward the judgment. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Increases the penalties for operating a motor vehicle while uninsured as follows: a person convicted of 2 or more violations of uninsured driving that causes bodily harm is subject to a fine of $4,500 (currently $2,500); for a first or second offense, a person is subject to a fine in excess of $1,000 (currently $500) but not more than $2,000 (currently $1,000), and having his or her driving privileges suspended for 6 (currently 3) months which may only be reinstated after he or she pays a $500 (currently $100) reinstatement fee; and for a third or subsequent offense, a person is subject to a fine of $2,000 (currently $1,000), and having his or her driving privileges suspended for 12 (currently 6) months which may only be reinstated after he or she pays a $1,000 (currently $100) reinstatement fee. Provides that a person convicted of uninsured driving while driving with suspended license plates is subject to an additional fine of $2,000.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the authority having maintenance jurisdiction over publicly owned paved bicycle trails in the State shall erect permanent regulatory or warning signage alerting pedestrians or cyclists of highway crossings, unless the intersection where the trail crosses the highway is controlled by an official traffic control device or sign. Provides that if the authority having maintenance jurisdiction over publicly owned bicycle trails has actual knowledge of an emergency or safety hazard that creates a dangerous condition on a publicly owned paved bicycle trail, the authority shall take reasonable steps to erect temporary signage or other warning markers, including, but not limited to, cones, barricades, or drums, alerting pedestrians or cyclists of the dangerous condition. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that it shall be permissible to operate a non-highway vehicle on all roadways within the boundaries of a municipality with a total population less than 10,000 persons and population density of less than 750 persons per square mile, and the municipality has authorized the use of non-highway vehicles. Provides that a non-highway vehicle being operated within a municipality under the provisions shall be operated only by: (i) a disabled veteran who would be otherwise eligible for a disabled veteran registration plate and who has been issued a person with disabilities parking placard; (ii) on the farthest outside lane or shoulder of a roadway with a speed limit not in excess of 35 miles per hour; (iii) for a distance of less than 5 miles per one-way trip from the point of origin to the point of destination; (iv) with the person with disabilities parking placard displayed; and (v) without crossing any toll roads or limited-access highways. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the driver's license of any person convicted of engaging in a street sideshow shall be revoked in the manner provided by the Code. Provides that every person convicted of engaging in a street sideshow shall be guilty of aggravated engaging in a street sideshow if the person, in committing the violation, was involved in a motor vehicle crash that resulted in great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to another, where the violation was a proximate cause of the injury. Provides that aggravated engaging in a street sideshow is a Class 4 felony for which the defendant, if sentenced to a term of imprisonment, shall be sentenced to not less than one year nor more than 12 years.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Divides vehicles into 3 (instead of 2) divisions. Provides that a third division motor vehicle is a vehicle which is designed for the carrying of more than 10 persons and not more than 15 persons and which is designed or used only as a multifunction school-activity bus. Provides that the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the State Board of Education, shall develop a separate classroom course and refresher course for operation of vehicles of the third division being operated as multifunction school-activity buses.