Public Act 90-0389 of the 90th General Assembly
Public Act 90-0389
HB1115 Enrolled LRB9004045DPcc
AN ACT to amend the Illinois Vehicle Code by changing
Section 12-503.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by
changing Section 12-503 as follows:
(625 ILCS 5/12-503) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-503)
Sec. 12-503. Windshields must be unobstructed and
equipped with wipers.
(a) No person shall drive a motor vehicle with any sign,
poster, window application, reflective material,
nonreflective material or tinted film upon the front
windshield, sidewings or side windows immediately adjacent to
each side of the driver. A nonreflective tinted film may be
used along the uppermost portion of the windshield if such
material does not extend more than 6 inches down from the top
of the windshield. Nothing in this Section shall create a
cause of action on behalf of a buyer against a dealer or
manufacturer who sells a motor vehicle with a window which is
in violation of this Section.
(b) Nothing contained in this Section shall prohibit the
use of nonreflective, smoked or tinted glass, nonreflective
film, perforated window screen or other decorative window
application on windows to the rear of the driver's seat,
except that any motor vehicle with a window to the rear of
the driver's seat treated in this manner shall be equipped
with a side mirror on each side of the motor vehicle which
are in conformance with Section 12-502.
(c) No person shall drive a motor vehicle with any
objects placed or suspended between the driver and the front
windshield, rear window, side wings or side windows
immediately adjacent to each side of the driver which
materially obstructs the driver's view.
(d) Every motor vehicle, except motorcycles, shall be
equipped with a device, controlled by the driver, for
cleaning rain, snow, moisture or other obstructions from the
windshield; and no person shall drive a motor vehicle with
snow, ice, moisture or other material on any of the windows
or mirrors, which materially obstructs the driver's clear
view of the highway.
(e) No person shall drive a motor vehicle when the
windshield, side or rear windows are in such defective
condition or repair as to materially impair the driver's view
to the front, side or rear. A vehicle equipped with a side
mirror on each side of the vehicle which are in conformance
with Section 12-502 will be deemed to be in compliance in the
event the rear window of the vehicle is materially obscured.
(f) Paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section shall not
apply to:
(1) motor vehicles manufactured prior to January 1,
1982; or
(2) to those motor vehicles properly registered in
another jurisdiction.
(g) Paragraph (a) of this Section shall not apply to any
motor vehicle with a window treatment, including but not
limited to a window application, reflective material,
nonreflective material, or tinted film, applied or affixed to
the motor vehicle for the purposes set forth in item (1) or
(2) before the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997
and:
(1) that is owned and operated by a person
afflicted with or suffering from a medical illness,
ailment, or disease which would require that person to be
shielded from the direct rays of the sun; or
(2) that is used in transporting a person when the
such person resides at the same address as the registered
owner of the vehicle and the such person is afflicted
with or suffering from a medical illness, ailment or
disease which would require the such person to be
shielded from the direct rays of the sun;
It must be certified by a physician licensed to
practice medicine in Illinois that such person owning and
operating or being transported in a motor vehicle is
afflicted with or suffers from such illness, ailment, or
disease and such certification must be carried in the
motor vehicle at all times. The certification shall be
legible and shall contain the date of issuance, the name,
address and signature of the attending physician, and the
name, address, and medical condition of the person
requiring exemption. The information on the certificate
for a window treatment applied or affixed before the
effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997 must remain
current and shall be renewed annually by the attending
physician, but in no event shall a certificate issued for
purposes of this subsection be valid on or after January
1, 2008. The person shall also submit a copy of the
certification to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of
State may forward notice of certification to law
enforcement agencies.
This subsection shall not be construed to authorize
window treatments applied or affixed on or after the
effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997.
The exemption provided by this subsection (g) shall not
apply to any motor vehicle on and after January 1, 2008.
(h) Paragraph (a) of this Section shall not apply to
motor vehicle stickers or other certificates issued by State
or local authorities which are required to be displayed upon
motor vehicle windows to evidence compliance with
requirements concerning motor vehicles.
(i) Those motor vehicles exempted under paragraph (f)(1)
of this Section shall not cause their windows to be treated
as described in paragraph (a) after January 1, 1993.
(j) A person found guilty of violating paragraphs (a),
(b), or (i) of this Section shall be guilty of a petty
offense and fined no less than $50 nor more than $500., A
second or subsequent violation of paragraphs (a), (b), or (i)
of this Section shall be treated as a Class C misdemeanor and
the violator fined no less than $100 nor more than $500. Any
person convicted under paragraphs (a), (b), or (i) of this
Section shall be ordered to alter any nonconforming windows
into compliance with this Section.
(Source: P.A. 87-1203; 88-52.)