HR0273 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0273 LRB097 11505 GRL 54456 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, During the 96th General Assembly, The Illinois General Assembly passed House Bill 5095, whose lead sponsors were House Republican Leader Tom Cross and Senator Terry Link; Governor Pat Quinn signed the bill into law on July 22, 2010 as Public Act 96-1167; and

WHEREAS, Public Act 96-1167 creates the Illinois Pedestrians with Disabilities Safety Act, which provides pedestrians with disabilities with the same rights as other pedestrians to equal access and use of the streets, sidewalks, highways, and walkways of this State; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Pedestrians with Disabilities Safety Act provides that any person who denies or interferes with the rights of a pedestrian with a disability under the Act shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Pedestrians with Disabilities Safety Act further provides that an operator of a vehicle shall stop the vehicle before approaching closer than 10 feet to a pedestrian with a disability who is using a mobility device, accompanied by a visibly identifiable service animal, or carrying or using a White cane; the operator shall also take all precautions that may be necessary to avoid an accident or injury to the pedestrian with a disability; any vehicle operator who fails to take such precautions shall be liable for damages for any injury caused to the pedestrian with a disability; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Pedestrians with Disabilities Safety Act has been widely accepted as a responsible law that should be enforced; and

WHEREAS, The fine law enforcement officers of the State of Illinois have an ever-growing body of laws, acts, and regulations to enforce, doing so at the best of their ability and with great honor; and

WHEREAS, With the workload already placed upon law enforcement officers, the Illinois Pedestrians with Disabilities Safety Act is often de-prioritized and not always enforced; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we encourage local and state law enforcement agencies in Illinois to educate their law enforcement officers to enforce the Illinois Pedestrians with Disabilities Safety Act to the best of their ability; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we thank all Illinois law enforcement officials for their continued efforts to protect the rights of the disabled; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be sent to the Executive Director of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board.