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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on July 23, 2013 at 6:55am

I tried to read the actual bill and my eyes glazed over. 

 

Here is another piece about it from http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Quinn-Passes-Law-to-Fight... - not much more detail - but it seems like the new law just removes the option of Court Supervision as a penalty.

This one from the Trib seems to clarify it a bit. Also interesting to note that Quinn also signed a bill outlawing cell phone use by commercial drivers. Does that include taxi drivers I wonder?

h' 1.0 said:

So as of July 1, anyone caught speeding more than 30 miles an hour above the posted speed limit on highways or 25 mph over or more in urban areas will not be able to walk out of the courtroom with a slap on the wrist as in court supervision.

So does anyone know what the actual consequence is?  I find it mind-boggling that people are ever permitted to legally be behind the wheel of a car again after they kill someone.

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Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on July 23, 2013 at 6:56am

In California, they have a "reckless driving" statute, which kicks in (I think) at 30mph above the speed limit.  I'm surprised Illinois hadn't had something similar before now.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on July 23, 2013 at 7:13am

The law prohibits a judge from giving a defendant supervision rather than a conviction when the defendant pleads guilty to traveling more than 40 miles per hour over the posted speed limit on a highway or more than 25 miles per hour over the posted speed limit in an urban district.  It means that a conviction goes on the driver's record.  It does not mean the driver goes to jail. 

It is still possible for the city attorney or the state's attorney to downgrade the charge which would allow for the possibility of supervision.

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Permalink Reply by Rich S on July 23, 2013 at 7:14am

I believe it's a misdemeanor to driver more than 40mph over the limit. Not sure if the charge is reckless driving but they can place you under arrest. 

Skip Montanaro 12mi said:

In California, they have a "reckless driving" statute, which kicks in (I think) at 30mph above the speed limit.  I'm surprised Illinois hadn't had something similar before now.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on July 23, 2013 at 7:20am

It is a Class A misdemeanor to drive more than 40 mph over the limit.  It is a Class B misdemeanor to driver 31 to 40 over the limit.  Either could be evidence of reckless driving, but reckless driving is a different charge.  Class A misdemeanors can result in imprisonment up to 364 days.  Class B misdemeanors can result in imprisonment for not more than 6 months.

A misdemeanor charge is a criminal charge, unlike a charge for violating most traffic laws.

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Permalink Reply by Tricolor on July 23, 2013 at 8:07am

Illinois has one.  I know I always would worry about it when I used to drive down to Peoria every week back in 2000-2002.  Some parts of I-55 are very dull.

Skip Montanaro 12mi said:

In California, they have a "reckless driving" statute, which kicks in (I think) at 30mph above the speed limit.  I'm surprised Illinois hadn't had something similar before now.

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