102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB3705

 

Introduced 2/22/2021, by Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
605 ILCS 10/10  from Ch. 121, par. 100-10

    Amends the Illinois Toll Highway Act. Provides that the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority shall not impose additional fines or fees for an unpaid toll paid within 14 days of its accrual. Provides that a vehicle owner's failure to pay a toll within 14 days of its accrual shall result in a fine not to exceed the amount of the original toll. Provides that the Illinois Highway Authority shall issue a notification to the vehicle owner of the fine and provide an additional 14-day payment period in which to pay without additional penalty. Provides that an additional fine, not to exceed the amount of the original toll, shall be imposed on any vehicle owner who fails to pay the unpaid toll and the first accrued fine within 14 days of notification. Provides that no more than 2 fees shall be imposed upon a vehicle owner for one unpaid toll violation. Provides that the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority shall have the power to waive fines and fees charged to a registered vehicle owner, at its discretion.


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A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Toll Highway Act is amended by changing
5Section 10 as follows:
 
6    (605 ILCS 10/10)  (from Ch. 121, par. 100-10)
7    Sec. 10. The Authority shall have power:
8    (a) To pass resolutions, make by-laws, rules and
9regulations for the management, regulation and control of its
10affairs, and to fix tolls, and to make, enact and enforce all
11needful rules and regulations in connection with the
12construction, operation, management, care, regulation or
13protection of its property or any toll highways, constructed
14or reconstructed hereunder. Any by-laws adopted under this
15Section shall include a requirement that directors disclose
16and avoid potential conflicts of interest. The by-laws shall
17be posted on the Authority's website.
18    (a-5) To fix, assess, and collect civil fines for a
19vehicle's operation on a toll highway without the required
20toll having been paid. The Authority may establish by rule a
21system of civil administrative adjudication to adjudicate only
22alleged instances of a vehicle's operation on a toll highway
23without the required toll having been paid, as detected by the

 

 

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1Authority's video or photo surveillance system. In cases in
2which the operator of the vehicle is not the registered
3vehicle owner, the establishment of ownership of the vehicle
4creates a rebuttable presumption that the vehicle was being
5operated by an agent of the registered vehicle owner. If the
6registered vehicle owner liable for a violation under this
7Section was not the operator of the vehicle at the time of the
8violation, the owner may maintain an action for
9indemnification against the operator in the circuit court.
10Rules establishing a system of civil administrative
11adjudication must provide for written notice, by first class
12mail or other means provided by law, to the address of the
13registered owner of the cited vehicle as recorded with the
14Secretary of State or to the lessee of the cited vehicle at the
15last address known to the lessor of the cited vehicle at the
16time of the lease, of the alleged violation and an opportunity
17to be heard on the question of the violation and must provide
18for the establishment of a toll-free telephone number to
19receive inquiries concerning alleged violations. The notice
20shall also inform the registered vehicle owner that failure to
21contest in the manner and time provided shall be deemed an
22admission of liability and that a final order of liability may
23be entered on that admission. A duly authorized agent of the
24Authority may perform or execute the preparation,
25certification, affirmation, or mailing of the notice. A notice
26of violation, sworn or affirmed to or certified by a duly

 

 

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1authorized agent of the Authority, or a facsimile of the
2notice, based upon an inspection of photographs,
3microphotographs, videotape, or other recorded images produced
4by a video or photo surveillance system, shall be admitted as
5prima facie evidence of the correctness of the facts contained
6in the notice or facsimile. Only civil fines, along with the
7corresponding outstanding toll, and costs may be imposed by
8administrative adjudication. A fine may be imposed under this
9paragraph only if a violation is established by a
10preponderance of the evidence. Judicial review of all final
11orders of the Authority under this paragraph shall be
12conducted in the circuit court of the county in which the
13administrative decision was rendered in accordance with the
14Administrative Review Law.
15    The Authority shall not impose additional fines or fees
16for an unpaid toll paid within 14 days of its accrual. A
17vehicle owner's failure to pay a toll within 14 days of its
18accrual shall result in a fine not to exceed the amount of the
19original toll. The Authority shall issue a notification to the
20vehicle owner of the fine and provide an additional 14 day
21payment period in which to pay without additional penalty. An
22additional fine, not to exceed the amount of the original
23toll, shall be imposed on any vehicle owner who fails to pay
24the unpaid toll and the first accrued fine within 14 days of
25notification. No more than 2 fees shall be imposed upon a
26vehicle owner for one unpaid toll violation.

 

 

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1    The Authority may maintain a listing or searchable
2database on its website of persons or entities that have been
3issued one or more final orders of liability with a total
4amount due of more than $1,000 for tolls, fines, unpaid late
5fees, or administrative costs that remain unpaid after the
6exhaustion of, or the failure to exhaust, the judicial review
7procedures under the Administrative Review Law. Each entry may
8include the person's or entity's name as listed on the final
9order of liability.
10    Any outstanding toll, fine, additional late payment fine,
11other sanction, or costs imposed, or part of any fine, other
12sanction, or costs imposed, remaining unpaid after the
13exhaustion of, or the failure to exhaust, judicial review
14procedures under the Administrative Review Law are a debt due
15and owing the Authority and may be collected in accordance
16with applicable law. After expiration of the period in which
17judicial review under the Administrative Review Law may be
18sought, unless stayed by a court of competent jurisdiction, a
19final order of the Authority under this subsection (a-5) may
20be enforced in the same manner as a judgment entered by a court
21of competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any other provision
22of this Act, the Authority may, with the approval of the
23Attorney General, retain a law firm or law firms with
24expertise in the collection of government fines and debts for
25the purpose of collecting fines, costs, and other moneys due
26under this subsection (a-5).

 

 

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1    A system of civil administrative adjudication may also
2provide for a program of vehicle immobilization, tow, or
3impoundment for the purpose of facilitating enforcement of any
4final order or orders of the Authority under this subsection
5(a-5) that result in a finding or liability for 5 or more
6violations after expiration of the period in which judicial
7review under the Administrative Review Law may be sought. The
8registered vehicle owner of a vehicle immobilized, towed, or
9impounded for nonpayment of a final order of the Authority
10under this subsection (a-5) shall have the right to request a
11hearing before the Authority's civil administrative
12adjudicatory system to challenge the validity of the
13immobilization, tow, or impoundment. This hearing, however,
14shall not constitute a readjudication of the merits of
15previously adjudicated notices. Judicial review of all final
16orders of the Authority under this subsection (a-5) shall be
17conducted in the circuit court of the county in which the
18administrative decision was rendered in accordance with the
19Administrative Review Law.
20    No commercial entity that is the lessor of a vehicle under
21a written lease agreement shall be liable for an
22administrative notice of violation for toll evasion issued
23under this subsection (a-5) involving that vehicle during the
24period of the lease if the lessor provides a copy of the
25leasing agreement to the Authority within 30 days of the issue
26date on the notice of violation. The leasing agreement also

 

 

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1must contain a provision or addendum informing the lessee that
2the lessee is liable for payment of all tolls and any fines for
3toll evasion. Each entity must also post a sign at the leasing
4counter notifying the lessee of that liability. The copy of
5the leasing agreement provided to the Authority must contain
6the name, address, and driver's license number of the lessee,
7as well as the check-out and return dates and times of the
8vehicle and the vehicle license plate number and vehicle make
9and model.
10    As used in this subsection (a-5), "lessor" includes
11commercial leasing and rental entities but does not include
12public passenger vehicle entities.
13    The Authority shall establish an amnesty program for
14violations adjudicated under this subsection (a-5). Under the
15program, any person who has an outstanding notice of violation
16for toll evasion or a final order of a hearing officer for toll
17evasion dated prior to the effective date of this amendatory
18Act of the 94th General Assembly and who pays to the Authority
19the full percentage amounts listed in this paragraph remaining
20due on the notice of violation or final order of the hearing
21officer and the full fees and costs paid by the Authority to
22the Secretary of State relating to suspension proceedings, if
23applicable, on or before 5:00 p.m., Central Standard Time, of
24the 60th day after the effective date of this amendatory Act of
25the 94th General Assembly shall not be required to pay more
26than the listed percentage of the original fine amount and

 

 

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1outstanding toll as listed on the notice of violation or final
2order of the hearing officer and the full fees and costs paid
3by the Authority to the Secretary of State relating to
4suspension proceedings, if applicable. The payment percentage
5scale shall be as follows: a person with 25 or fewer violations
6shall be eligible for amnesty upon payment of 50% of the
7original fine amount and the outstanding tolls; a person with
8more than 25 but fewer than 51 violations shall be eligible for
9amnesty upon payment of 60% of the original fine amount and the
10outstanding tolls; and a person with 51 or more violations
11shall be eligible for amnesty upon payment of 75% of the
12original fine amount and the outstanding tolls. In such a
13situation, the Executive Director of the Authority or his or
14her designee is authorized and directed to waive any late fine
15amount above the applicable percentage of the original fine
16amount. Partial payment of the amount due shall not be a basis
17to extend the amnesty payment deadline nor shall it act to
18relieve the person of liability for payment of the late fine
19amount. In order to receive amnesty, the full amount of the
20applicable percentage of the original fine amount and
21outstanding toll remaining due on the notice of violation or
22final order of the hearing officer and the full fees and costs
23paid by the Authority to the Secretary of State relating to
24suspension proceedings, if applicable, must be paid in full by
255:00 p.m., Central Standard Time, of the 60th day after the
26effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General

 

 

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1Assembly. This amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly has
2no retroactive effect with regard to payments already tendered
3to the Authority that were full payments or payments in an
4amount greater than the applicable percentage, and this Act
5shall not be the basis for either a refund or a credit. This
6amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly does not apply to
7toll evasion citations issued by the Illinois State Police or
8other authorized law enforcement agencies and for which
9payment may be due to or through the clerk of the circuit
10court. The Authority shall adopt rules as necessary to
11implement the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 94th
12General Assembly. The Authority, by a resolution of the Board
13of Directors, shall have the discretion to implement similar
14amnesty programs in the future. The Authority, at its
15discretion and in consultation with the Attorney General, is
16further authorized to settle an administrative fine or penalty
17if it determines that settling for less than the full amount is
18in the best interests of the Authority after taking into
19account the following factors: (1) the merits of the
20Authority's claim against the respondent; (2) the amount that
21can be collected relative to the administrative fine or
22penalty owed by the respondent; (3) the cost of pursuing
23further enforcement or collection action against the
24respondent; (4) the likelihood of collecting the full amount
25owed; and (5) the burden on the judiciary. The provisions in
26this Section may be extended to other toll facilities in the

 

 

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1State of Illinois through a duly executed agreement between
2the Authority and the operator of the toll facility.
3    (a-7) In the discretion of the Authority, to waive the
4fines and fees charged to a registered vehicle owner for an
5unpaid toll violation.
6    (b) To prescribe rules and regulations applicable to
7traffic on highways under the jurisdiction of the Authority,
8concerning:
9        (1) Types of vehicles permitted to use such highways
10    or parts thereof, and classification of such vehicles;
11        (2) Designation of the lanes of traffic to be used by
12    the different types of vehicles permitted upon said
13    highways;
14        (3) Stopping, standing, and parking of vehicles;
15        (4) Control of traffic by means of police officers or
16    traffic control signals;
17        (5) Control or prohibition of processions, convoys,
18    and assemblages of vehicles and persons;
19        (6) Movement of traffic in one direction only on
20    designated portions of said highways;
21        (7) Control of the access, entrance, and exit of
22    vehicles and persons to and from said highways; and
23        (8) Preparation, location and installation of all
24    traffic signs; and to prescribe further rules and
25    regulations applicable to such traffic, concerning matters
26    not provided for either in the foregoing enumeration or in

 

 

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1    the Illinois Vehicle Code. Notice of such rules and
2    regulations shall be posted conspicuously and displayed at
3    appropriate points and at reasonable intervals along said
4    highways, by clearly legible markers or signs, to provide
5    notice of the existence of such rules and regulations to
6    persons traveling on said highways. At each toll station,
7    the Authority shall make available, free of charge,
8    pamphlets containing all of such rules and regulations.
9    (c) The Authority, in fixing the rate for tolls for the
10privilege of using the said toll highways, is authorized and
11directed, in fixing such rates, to base the same upon annual
12estimates to be made, recorded and filed with the Authority.
13Said estimates shall include the following: The estimated
14total amount of the use of the toll highways; the estimated
15amount of the revenue to be derived therefrom, which said
16revenue, when added to all other receipts and income, will be
17sufficient to pay the expense of maintaining and operating
18said toll highways, including the administrative expenses of
19the Authority, and to discharge all obligations of the
20Authority as they become due and payable.
21    (d) To accept from any municipality or political
22subdivision any lands, easements or rights in land needed for
23the operation, construction, relocation or maintenance of any
24toll highways, with or without payment therefor, and in its
25discretion to reimburse any such municipality or political
26subdivision out of its funds for any cost or expense incurred

 

 

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1in the acquisition of land, easements or rights in land, in
2connection with the construction and relocation of the said
3toll highways, widening, extending roads, streets or avenues
4in connection therewith, or for the construction of any roads
5or streets forming extension to and connections with or
6between any toll highways, or for the cost or expense of
7widening, grading, surfacing or improving any existing streets
8or roads or the construction of any streets and roads forming
9extensions of or connections with any toll highways
10constructed, relocated, operated, maintained or regulated
11hereunder by the Authority. Where property owned by a
12municipality or political subdivision is necessary to the
13construction of an approved toll highway, if the Authority
14cannot reach an agreement with such municipality or political
15subdivision and if the use to which the property is being put
16in the hands of the municipality or political subdivision is
17not essential to the existence or the administration of such
18municipality or political subdivision, the Authority may
19acquire the property by condemnation.
20(Source: P.A. 99-214, eff. 1-1-16; 100-1180, eff. 2-28-19.)