97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
SB3501

 

Introduced 2/8/2012, by Sen. Darin M. LaHood

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
625 ILCS 5/11-601  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-601
625 ILCS 5/11-602  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-602
625 ILCS 5/11-603  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-603

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that outside the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will, the maximum speed limit outside an urban district for any vehicle is (1) 70 miles per hour on any interstate highway; (2) 65 miles per hour for all or part of highways that are designated by the Department of Transportation, have at least 4 lanes of traffic, and have a separation between the roadways moving in opposite directions; and (3) 55 miles per hour for all other highways, roads, and streets. Permits the Department of Transportation and Toll Highway Authority to alter speed limits up to the new maximum speed limit (rather than up to 65 miles per hour).


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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 Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing
5Sections 11-601, 11-602, and 11-603 as follows:
 
6    (625 ILCS 5/11-601)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-601)
7    Sec. 11-601. General speed restrictions.
8    (a) No vehicle may be driven upon any highway of this State
9at a speed which is greater than is reasonable and proper with
10regard to traffic conditions and the use of the highway, or
11endangers the safety of any person or property. The fact that
12the speed of a vehicle does not exceed the applicable maximum
13speed limit does not relieve the driver from the duty to
14decrease speed when approaching and crossing an intersection,
15approaching and going around a curve, when approaching a hill
16crest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway, or
17when special hazard exists with respect to pedestrians or other
18traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions. Speed
19must be decreased as may be necessary to avoid colliding with
20any person or vehicle on or entering the highway in compliance
21with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due
22care.
23    (b) No person may drive a vehicle upon any highway of this

 

 

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1State at a speed which is greater than the applicable statutory
2maximum speed limit established by paragraphs (c), (d), (e),
3(f) or (g) of this Section, by Section 11-605 or by a
4regulation or ordinance made under this Chapter.
5    (c) Unless some other speed restriction is established
6under this Chapter, the maximum speed limit in an urban
7district for all vehicles is:
8        1. 30 miles per hour; and
9        2. 15 miles per hour in an alley.
10    (d) Unless some other speed restriction is established
11under this Chapter, the maximum speed limit outside an urban
12district for any vehicle is (1) 65 miles per hour (i) for all
13highways under the jurisdiction of the Illinois State Toll
14Highway Authority, unless some other speed limit is designated,
15and (ii) for all or part of highways that are designated by the
16Department, have at least 4 lanes of traffic, and have a
17separation between the roadways moving in opposite directions
18and (2) 55 miles per hour for all other highways, roads, and
19streets.
20    (d-1) Outside the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake,
21McHenry, and Will, unless some other speed restriction is
22established under this Chapter, the maximum speed limit outside
23an urban district for any vehicle is (1) 70 miles per hour on
24any interstate highway as defined by Section 1-133.1 of this
25Code; (2) 65 miles per hour for all or part of highways that
26are designated by the Department, have at least 4 lanes of

 

 

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1traffic, and have a separation between the roadways moving in
2opposite directions; and (3) 55 miles per hour for all other
3highways, roads, and streets.
4    (e) In the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry,
5and Will, unless some lesser speed restriction is established
6under this Chapter, the maximum speed limit outside an urban
7district for a second division vehicle designed or used for the
8carrying of a gross weight of 8,001 pounds or more (including
9the weight of the vehicle and maximum load) is 55 miles per
10hour.
11    (e-1) (Blank).
12    (f) Unless some other speed restriction is established
13under this Chapter, the maximum speed limit outside an urban
14district for a bus is:
15        1. 65 miles per hour upon any highway which has at
16    least 4 lanes of traffic and of which the roadways for
17    traffic moving in opposite directions are separated by a
18    strip of ground which is not surfaced or suitable for
19    vehicular traffic, except that the maximum speed limit for
20    a bus on all highways, roads, or streets not under the
21    jurisdiction of the Department or the Illinois State Toll
22    Highway Authority is 55 miles per hour; and
23        1.5. 70 miles per hour, upon any interstate highway as
24    defined by Section 1-133.1 of this Code outside the
25    counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will;
26    and

 

 

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1        2. 55 miles per hour on any other highway.
2    (g) (Blank).
3(Source: P.A. 96-524, eff. 1-1-10; 97-202, eff. 1-1-12.)
 
4    (625 ILCS 5/11-602)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-602)
5    Sec. 11-602. Alteration of limits by Department. Whenever
6the Department determines, upon the basis of an engineering and
7traffic investigation concerning any highway for which the
8Department has maintenance responsibility, that a maximum
9speed limit prescribed in Section 11-601 of this Chapter is
10greater or less than is reasonable or safe with respect to the
11conditions found to exist at any intersection or other place on
12such highway or along any part or zone thereof, the Department
13shall determine and declare a reasonable and safe absolute
14maximum speed limit applicable to such intersection or place,
15or along such part or zone. However, such limit shall conform
16with the maximum speed limit restrictions provided for in
17Section 11-601 of this Code not exceed 65 miles per hour on a
18highway or street which is especially designed for through
19traffic and to, from, or over which owners of or persons having
20an interest in abutting property or other persons have no right
21or easement, or only a limited right or easement, of access,
22crossing, light, air, or view, and shall not exceed 55 miles
23per hour on any other highway. Where a highway under the
24Department's jurisdiction is contiguous to school property,
25the Department may, at the school district's request, set a

 

 

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1reduced maximum speed limit for student safety purposes in the
2portion of the highway that faces the school property and in
3the portions of the highway that extend one-quarter mile in
4each direction from the opposite ends of the school property. A
5limit determined and declared as provided in this Section
6becomes effective, and suspends the applicability of the limit
7prescribed in Section 11-601 of this Chapter, when appropriate
8signs giving notice of the limit are erected at such
9intersection or other place, or along such part or zone of the
10highway. Electronic speed-detecting devices shall not be used
11within 500 feet beyond any such sign in the direction of
12travel; if so used in violation hereof, evidence obtained
13thereby shall be inadmissible in any prosecution for speeding.
14However, nothing in this Section prohibits the use of such
15electronic speed-detecting devices within 500 feet of a sign
16within a special school speed zone indicating such zone,
17conforming to the requirements of Section 11-605 of this Act,
18nor shall evidence obtained thereby be inadmissible in any
19prosecution for speeding provided the use of such device shall
20apply only to the enforcement of the speed limit in such
21special school speed zone.
22(Source: P.A. 96-524, eff. 1-1-10.)
 
23    (625 ILCS 5/11-603)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-603)
24    Sec. 11-603. Alteration of limits by Toll Highway
25Authority. Whenever the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority

 

 

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1determines, upon the basis of an engineering and traffic
2investigation concerning a toll highway under its
3jurisdiction, that a maximum speed limit prescribed in Section
411-601 of this Chapter is greater or less than is reasonable or
5safe with respect to conditions found to exist at any place or
6along any part or zone of such highway, the Authority shall
7determine and declare by regulation a reasonable and safe
8absolute maximum speed limit at such place or along such part
9or zone, and the speed limit shall conform with the maximum
10speed limit restrictions provided for in Section 11-601 of this
11Code not exceeding 65 miles per hour. A limit so determined and
12declared becomes effective, and suspends the application of the
13limit prescribed in Section 11-601 of this Chapter, when (a)
14the Department concurs in writing with the Authority's
15regulation, and (b) appropriate signs giving notice of the
16limit are erected at such place or along such part or zone of
17the highway. Electronic speed-detecting devices shall not be
18used within 500 feet beyond any such sign in the direction of
19travel; if so used in violation hereof, evidence obtained
20thereby shall be inadmissible in any prosecution for speeding.
21(Source: P.A. 89-444, eff. 1-25-96.)