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Important new traffic laws in Illinois for 2013

by Sami Azhari on December 29, 2012

State lawmakers made some important changes to the Illinois Vehicle Code for 2013. One change may lead to a substantial increase in driver’s license suspensions.

No Supervision for Speeding

Lawmakers amended 730 ILCS 5/5-6-1 to prohibit traffic court judges from giving supervision on speeding tickets more than 25 mph over the limit:

The provisions [allowing supervision] shall not apply to a defendant charged with violating subsection (b) of Section 11-601 of the Illinois Vehicle Code when the defendant was operating a vehicle, in an urban district, at a speed in excess of 25 miles per hour over the posted speed limit.

730 ILCS 5/5-6-1(q).

The general rule is that three convictions for moving violations in 12 months will result in a suspended driver’s license. If drivers can’t get supervision for speeding more than 25 mph over the limit, then the odds of a suspended license increase substantially.

Ban on Cell Phones for Commercial Drivers

CDL operators can no longer use cell phones on the road, unless they are hands-free. Under 625 ILCS 5/6-526 and 6-527, commercial vehicle drivers are prohibited form texting, and from making phone calls while holding a cell phone by hand.

A violation would constitute a serious traffic violation that can cancel a CDL.

The prohibition against applies even when the vehicle is stopped at a red light or due to traffic.

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