SB3491eng 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB3491 Engrossed LRB097 18166 HEP 63390 b

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 changing Sections 3-609 and 11-1301.1 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/3-609) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-609)

Sec. 3-609. Disabled Veterans' Plates.

(a) Any veteran who holds proof of a service-connected disability from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and who has obtained certification from a licensed physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice nurse that the service-connected disability qualifies the veteran for issuance of registration plates or decals to a person with disabilities in accordance with Section 3-616, may make application to the Secretary of State for disabled veterans license plates displaying the international symbol of access, for the registration of one motor vehicle of the first division or one motor vehicle of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds, without the payment of any registration fee.

(b) Any veteran who holds proof of a service-connected disability from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and whose degree of disability has been declared to be 50% or more, but whose disability does not qualify the veteran for a plate or decal for persons with disabilities under Section 3-616, may make application to the Secretary for a special registration plate without the international symbol of access for the registration of one motor vehicle of the first division or one motor vehicle of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds, without the payment of any registration fee. Any veteran may make application for the registration of one motor vehicle of the first division or one motor vehicle of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds to the Secretary of State without the payment of any registration fee if (i) the veteran holds proof of a service-connected disability from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and (ii) a licensed physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice nurse has certified in accordance with Section 3-616 that because of the service-connected disability the veteran qualifies for issuance of registration plates or decals to a person with disabilities. The Secretary may, in his or her discretion, allow the plates to be issued as vanity or personalized plates in accordance with Section 3-405.1 of this Code. Registration shall be for a multi-year period and may be issued staggered registration.

(c) Renewal of such registration must be accompanied with documentation for eligibility of registration without fee unless the applicant has a permanent qualifying disability, and such registration plates may not be issued to any person not eligible therefor. The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs may assist in providing the documentation of disability.

(d) The design and color of the plates shall be within the discretion of the Secretary, except that the plates issued under subsection (b) of this Section shall not contain the international symbol of access. The Secretary may, in his or her discretion, allow the plates to be issued as vanity or personalized plates in accordance with Section 3-405.1 of this Code. Registration shall be for a multi-year period and may be issued staggered registration.

(e) Any Commencing with the 2009 registration year, any person eligible to receive license plates under this Section who has been approved for benefits under the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act, or who has claimed and received a grant under that Act, shall pay a fee of $24 instead of the fee otherwise provided in this Code for passenger cars displaying standard multi-year registration plates issued under Section 3-414.1, for motor vehicles registered at 8,000 pounds or less under Section 3-815(a), or for recreational vehicles registered at 8,000 pounds or less under Section 3-815(b), for a second set of plates under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 95-157, eff. 1-1-08; 95-167, eff. 1-1-08; 95-353, eff. 1-1-08; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08; 96-79, eff. 1-1-10.)

(625 ILCS 5/11-1301.1) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1301.1)

Sec. 11-1301.1. Persons with disabilities - Parking privileges - Exemptions.

(a) A motor vehicle bearing registration plates issued to a person with disabilities, as defined by Section 1-159.1, pursuant to Section 3-616 or to a disabled veteran pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 3-609 or a special decal or device issued pursuant to Section 3-616 or pursuant to Section 11-1301.2 of this Code or a motor vehicle registered in another jurisdiction, state, district, territory or foreign country upon which is displayed a registration plate, special decal or device issued by the other jurisdiction designating the vehicle is operated by or for a person with disabilities 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, or any parking lot or parking place which are owned, leased or owned and leased by a municipality or a municipal parking utility; and shall be recognized by state and local authorities as a valid license plate or parking device and shall receive the same parking privileges as residents of this State; but, such vehicle shall 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, and is prohibited from parking where the motor vehicle constitutes a traffic hazard, whereby such motor vehicle shall be moved at the instruction and request of a law enforcement officer to a location designated by the officer.

(b) Any motor vehicle bearing registration plates or a special decal or device specified in this Section or in Section 3-616 of this Code, or such parking device as specifically authorized in Section 11-1301.2 as evidence that the vehicle is operated by or for a person with disabilities, or bearing registration plates issued to a disabled veteran under subsection (a) of Section 3-609 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 as provided under Section 11-301. Parking privileges granted by this Section are strictly limited to the person to whom the special registration plates, special decal or device were issued and to qualified operators acting under his or her express direction while the person with disabilities 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 special registration plates, special decal or device was issued.

(c) Such parking privileges granted by this Section are also extended to motor vehicles of not-for-profit organizations used for the transportation of persons with disabilities when such motor vehicles display the decal or device issued pursuant to Section 11-1301.2 of this Code.

(d) 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 such area expressly prohibits parking at any time or during certain hours.

(Source: P.A. 95-167, eff. 1-1-08; 96-79, eff. 1-1-10.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2013.