Schools
Speeding in a School Zone in Illinois: Laws, Fines
Brushing up on school zone traffic regulations could save you from a ticket.
Now that classes have started in Illinois again, drivers need to remember to slow down near schools. Not just for the safety of the kids who are back hitting the books (although that should be reason enough), but also because being caught speeding in a school zone can carry more than just a fine.
How's a school zone defined? What's the speed limit in one? Does it apply throughout the school year? Here's what you need to know to keep your driving record—as well as yourself and others—safe:
Speeding in a School Zone
The Law: Under state law, the speed limit for all school zones is 20 mph, regardless of what the speed is for the road the school is on. But that limit—which must be posted around the school—is only in effect from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on days school is in session.
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Speeding isn't the only thing prohibited in a school zone, either. Motorists are not allowed to pass while in a school zone, and pedestrians have the right-of-way in a school zone crosswalk.
The Penalty: By in large, speeding in a school zone is petty offense. That means it's punishable by a minimum fine of $150 for the first offense and $300 for further infractions. Motorists also must pay $50 to the school district where the speeding violation happened.
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RELATED: Passing a Stopped School Bus in Illinois: Laws, Fines
Even though speeding in a school zone is punishable by a fine, offenders can't simply mail in a money order and be done with it. Ticketed drivers must appear in court.
The state also has created special sanctions for school zone-speeding cases that involve someone being hurt or killed. Under "Jeff's Law," which was passed in 2007, a driver is deemed to have been driving recklessly if he or she was speeding in a school zone and someone was injured or killed. And under another law passed in 2007, anyone causing great bodily harm to a child or a crossing guard in a school zone can be fined up to $25,000 and be sentenced to jail time.
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