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| Public Act 097-0016 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning transportation.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing | ||||
Section 12-603.1 as follows:
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(625 ILCS 5/12-603.1) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-603.1)
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Sec. 12-603.1. Driver and passenger required to use safety | ||||
belts,
exceptions and penalty. | ||||
(a) Each driver and front seat passenger of a motor vehicle | ||||
operated on a
street or highway in this State shall wear a | ||||
properly adjusted and
fastened seat safety belt. A ; except | ||||
that, a child less than 8 years of age shall
be protected as | ||||
required pursuant to the Child Passenger Protection Act.
Each | ||||
driver under the age of 18 years and each of the driver's
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passengers under the age of 19 years of a motor vehicle | ||||
operated
on a street or highway in this State shall wear a | ||||
properly
adjusted and fastened seat safety belt.
Every | ||||
passenger under the age of 19 in a vehicle being driven by a | ||||
person over the age of 18 who committed an offense against | ||||
traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles or any | ||||
violation of this Section or Section 6-107 of this Code within | ||||
6 months prior to the driver's 18th birthday and was | ||||
subsequently convicted of the violation, shall wear a properly | ||||
adjusted and fastened seat safety belt, until such time as a | ||
period of 6 consecutive months has elapsed without the driver | ||
receiving an additional violation and subsequent conviction of | ||
an offense against traffic regulations governing the movement | ||
of vehicles or any violation of this Section or Section 6-107 | ||
of this Code. Each driver of a motor vehicle transporting a | ||
child 8 years of age or
more, but less than 16 years of age,
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shall secure the child in a properly adjusted and fastened seat | ||
safety belt as required under the Child Passenger Protection | ||
Act. Each driver of a motor vehicle transporting a passenger | ||
who is unable, due to infirmity, illness, or age, to properly | ||
adjust and
fasten a seat
safety belt and is not exempted from | ||
wearing a seat safety belt under subsection (b)
shall secure | ||
the passenger in a properly adjusted and fastened seat safety | ||
belt as required under this Section.
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(b) Paragraph (a) shall not apply to any of the following:
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1. A driver or passenger frequently stopping and | ||
leaving the vehicle or
delivering property from the | ||
vehicle, if the speed of the vehicle between
stops does not | ||
exceed 15 miles per hour.
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2. A driver or passenger possessing a written statement | ||
from a physician
that such person is unable, for medical or | ||
physical reasons, to wear a seat
safety belt.
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3. A driver or passenger possessing an official | ||
certificate or license
endorsement issued by the | ||
appropriate agency in another state or country
indicating | ||
that the driver is unable for medical, physical, or other | ||
valid
reasons to wear a seat safety belt.
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4. A driver operating a motor vehicle in reverse.
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5. A motor vehicle with a model year prior to 1965.
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6. A motorcycle or motor driven cycle.
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7. A moped.
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8. A motor vehicle which is not required to be equipped | ||
with seat safety
belts under federal law.
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9. A motor vehicle operated by a rural letter carrier | ||
of the United
States postal service while performing duties | ||
as a rural letter carrier.
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10. A driver or passenger of an authorized emergency | ||
vehicle. | ||
11. A back seat passenger of a taxicab. | ||
(c) Failure to wear a seat safety belt in violation of this | ||
Section
shall not be considered evidence of negligence, shall | ||
not limit the
liability of an insurer, and shall not diminish | ||
any recovery for damages
arising out of the ownership, | ||
maintenance, or operation of a motor vehicle.
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(d) A violation of this Section shall be a petty offense | ||
and subject to a
fine not to exceed $25.
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(e) (Blank).
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(f) A law enforcement officer may not search or inspect a | ||
motor vehicle,
its contents, the driver, or a passenger solely | ||
because of a violation of this
Section.
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(Source: P.A. 95-310, eff. 1-1-08; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; | ||
96-554, eff. 1-1-10; 96-991, eff. 1-1-11; revised 7-22-10.)
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