New Illinois Laws 2018: Transportation and Vehicle Regulation

Vehicle Code and Bicycles (HB 1784): Allows motorists to pass bicyclists in no-passing zones and allows bicyclists to drive on the shoulder.

Organ Donor Registry Age 16 (HB 1805): Allows driver's license or identification card applicants who are 16 years old or older (rather than 18) the opportunity to be included in the First Person Consent organ and tissue donor registry.

Dealership Vehicle Stickers (HB 733): Car dealers are prohibited from letting motorists drive off the premises in a vehicle with any type of signs or decals on windows that could obstruct the driver’s view.

Fire and Emergency Vehicle Weight (HB 2492): Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code exempting emergency vehicles and fire trucks from all size, weight and load limits in the Vehicle Code except on Class I highways.

Electronic Auto Insurance Verification (HB 2610): Allows the Illinois Secretary of State to electronically verify auto insurance policies.

Pedestrian Disability Paths (HB 2643): Adds walking, running or bike paths to definition of "pedestrian with a disability."

Recreation Trail Funds (HB 2725): Requires the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources and the Illinois Dept. of Transportation to enter into an inter‐agency agreement and coordinate on developing the obligation of projects authorized by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for projects within the Recreational Trails Program.

Illinois Secretary of State Email Notification (HB 3045): Requires the Illinois Secretary of State to include a person’s email address, if available, at the time of application for a certificate of title and vehicle registration.

Clarifying Vehicle Product Warranties (HB 3072): Clarifies Vehicle Protection Product warranties and corrects previous drafting errors.

Vehicle Safety Test (HB 3172): Requires a truck tractor in combination with a semitrailer to be submitted to safety inspection every 12 months.

School Bus Identification (HB 3293): Provides that when an individual or entity that is not a school district, religious organization, school bus vendor, or school bus company sells a school bus, the recipient must perform certain modifications to the vehicle.

Emergency Sirens (HB 3469): Allows municipal or county emergency service or disaster service vehicles to be equipped with sirens.

Mandatory Vehicle Insurance (HB 3874): Clarifies that no person shall operate, register, or maintain registration of a motor vehicle anywhere in the state (including on private property) unless the vehicle is covered by a liability insurance policy.

Volunteerism Plates (HB 2437): Authorizes the Illinois Department of Human Services to issue "volunteerism" decals for the Universal special license plate.

Horseman Decal (SB 52): Allows for the Horsemen's Council of Illinois to issue a decal for the Universal Special License plate.

Low Speed Electric Bicycles (SB 396): Creates three new classifications of electric bicycles and allows local authorities to regulate low‐speed electric and gas‐bicycles.

Vehicle Code-Miscellaneous (SB 1556): Creates an expiration of temporary liens on vehicles and raises bond requirements on auto‐dealers.

Accident Report and Data (SB 1580): Establishes that IDOT will collect electronic crash data and allows IDOT to make motor vehicle accident data available to the public for a fee.

Carrier Insurance (SB 1681): Requires every rail carrier that contracts with a carrier for the transportation of its employees to verify that the contract carrier has hit and run, uninsured, and underinsured motor vehicle coverage.

School Bus Activity (SB 2028): Allows a school bus to be used to transport passengers other than students to non‐school based events without changing the registration and license plates on the bus.

Railroad Supplier Diversity (SB 1267): Requires each Class I railroad to submit an annual report containing procurement goals and actual spending for female‐owned, minority‐owned, veteran‐owned and small business enterprises.

Semi-Trailer and Semi-Tractor Length (HB 683): Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the maximum length of a truck tractor in combination with a semi-trailer may not exceed 65 feet (rather than 55 feet) overall dimension on all non-State highways. Removes the requirement that truck tractor-semitrailer combinations must have no more than a maximum 55 feet overall wheel base on Class III roadways and other non-designated State highways.

Human Trafficking Notification (HB 1677): Requires the Secretary of State to include information on human trafficking in its commercial drivers license curriculum and study guide information.

Also Watch: New Illinois Laws in 2018 That Could Change Your Life