20 ILCS 2610/30

(20 ILCS 2610/30)

Sec. 30. Patrol vehicles with in-car video recording cameras.

(a) Definitions. As used in this Section:

"Audio recording" means the recorded conversation between an officer and a second party.

"Emergency lights" means oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights on patrol vehicles.

"In-car video camera" means a video camera located in an Illinois State Police patrol vehicle.

"In-car video camera recording equipment" means a video camera recording system located in an Illinois State Police patrol vehicle consisting of a camera assembly, recording mechanism, and an in-car video recording medium.

"Enforcement stop" means an action by an officer of the Illinois State Police in relation to enforcement and investigation duties, including but not limited to, traffic stops, pedestrian stops, abandoned vehicle contacts, motorist assists, commercial motor vehicle stops, roadside safety checks, requests for identification, or responses to requests for emergency assistance.

"Recording" means the process of capturing data or information stored on a recording medium as required under this Section.

"Recording medium" means any recording medium authorized by the Illinois State Police for the retention and playback of recorded audio and video including, but not limited to, VHS, DVD, hard drive, solid state, digital, or flash memory technology.

"Wireless microphone" means a device worn by the officer or any other equipment used to record conversations between the officer and a second party and transmitted to the recording equipment.

(b) By June 1, 2009, the Illinois State Police shall install in-car video camera recording equipment in all patrol vehicles. Subject to appropriation, all patrol vehicles shall be equipped with in-car video camera recording equipment with a recording medium capable of recording for a period of 10 hours or more by June 1, 2011. In-car video camera recording equipment shall be capable of making audio recordings with the assistance of a wireless microphone.

(c) As of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, in-car video camera recording equipment with a recording medium incapable of recording for a period of 10 hours or more shall record activities outside a patrol vehicle whenever (i) an officer assigned a patrol vehicle is conducting an enforcement stop; (ii) patrol vehicle emergency lights are activated or would otherwise be activated if not for the need to conceal the presence of law enforcement; or (iii) an officer reasonably believes recording may assist with prosecution, enhance safety, or for any other lawful purpose. As of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, in-car video camera recording equipment with a recording medium incapable of recording for a period of 10 hours or more shall record activities inside the vehicle when transporting an arrestee or when an officer reasonably believes recording may assist with prosecution, enhance safety, or for any other lawful purpose.

(1) Recording for an enforcement stop shall begin when the officer determines an enforcement stop is necessary and shall continue until the enforcement action has been completed and the subject of the enforcement stop or the officer has left the scene.

(2) Recording shall begin when patrol vehicle emergency lights are activated or when they would otherwise be activated if not for the need to conceal the presence of law enforcement, and shall continue until the reason for the activation ceases to exist, regardless of whether the emergency lights are no longer activated.

(3) An officer may begin recording if the officer reasonably believes recording may assist with prosecution, enhance safety, or for any other lawful purpose; and shall continue until the reason for recording ceases to exist.

(d) In-car video camera recording equipment with a recording medium capable of recording for a period of 10 hours or more shall record activities whenever a patrol vehicle is assigned to patrol duty.

(e) Any enforcement stop resulting from a suspected violation of the Illinois Vehicle Code shall be video and audio recorded. Audio recording shall terminate upon release of the violator and prior to initiating a separate criminal investigation.

(f) Recordings made on in-car video camera recording medium shall be retained by the Illinois State Police for a storage period of at least 90 days. Under no circumstances shall any recording made on in-car video camera recording medium be altered or erased prior to the expiration of the designated storage period. Upon completion of the storage period, the recording medium may be erased and reissued for operational use unless otherwise ordered by the District Commander or his or her designee or by a court, or if designated for evidentiary or training purposes.

(g) Audio or video recordings made pursuant to this Section shall be available under the applicable provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. Only recorded portions of the audio recording or video recording medium applicable to the request will be available for inspection or copying.

(h) The Illinois State Police shall ensure proper care and maintenance of in-car video camera recording equipment and recording medium. An officer operating a patrol vehicle must immediately document and notify the District Commander or his or her designee of any technical difficulties, failures, or problems with the in-car video camera recording equipment or recording medium. Upon receiving notice, the District Commander or his or her designee shall make every reasonable effort to correct and repair any of the in-car video camera recording equipment or recording medium and determine if it is in the public interest to permit the use of the patrol vehicle.

(i) The Illinois State Police may promulgate rules to implement this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly only to the extent necessary to apply the existing rules or applicable internal directives.

(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)