Pritzker signs bills to strengthen Scott’s Law

BY DANI TIETZ
dani@mahometnews.com

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzer signed legislation to strengthen penalties for life-threatening roadway violations at the end of July.

Senate Bill1862 was established to expand Scott’s Law to protect law enforcement, first responders and road workers.

“Since 2002, Scott’s Law has said that drivers approaching a vehicle with their hazard lights on must slow down and move over. This is not optional. This is how we keep our heroes and first responders as safe as possible in their line of work,” said Gov. JB Pritzker in a statement.

“This new and enhanced law protects those whose employment requires them to pull over on the highway. No policy will ever make restore the families of Trooper (Scott) Gillen, Trooper (Brooke) Jones-Story and Trooper (Christopher) Lambert, nor will the loved ones of the construction workers or emergency responders killed on the job ever feel that their lives are made whole again.

“But with these laws, we are cementing our state’s commitment to safety: helping to protect the people who make our world better, our lives easier and our families safer.”

The new law, which takes effect immediately, extends Scott’s Law protections to include a stationary authorized vehicle with oscillating lights, first responders, IDOT workers, law enforcement officers and any individual authorized to be on the highway within the scope of their employment or job duties.

It also increases the minimum fine to $250 for a first violation of Scott’s Law and to $750 for a second or subsequent violation as well as adds $250 assessment fee for any violation of Scott’s Law which will be deposited into a new dedicated fund to produce driver education materials, called the Scott’s Law Fund.

Criminal penalties will increase to a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail, if violation results in damage to another vehicle or a Class 4 felony, punishable by up to one to three years in prison, if violation results in an injury or death of another person. Under the new law, an aggravating factor will be added to reckless homicide charges if Scott’s Law was violated.

The Secretary of State is also required to include written question on Scott’s Law in the driver’s license test.

Senate Bill 2038 creates a 25-member Move Over Task Force, which will study the causes of violations and establish ways to protect law enforcement, emergency responders and residents of the state.

The Task Force recommendations are due to the General Assembly by Jan. 1, 2020.

Senate Bill 1496 increases fees in construction zones beginning Jan. 1, 2020.

The new law sets a penalty of between $100 and $1,000 for a driver who disobeys traffic-control devices within designated highway construction zone or maintenance zone. It also increases the penalty cap for a person who violates the rules on entering a construction or maintenance zone when workers are present from $10,000 to $25,000.