An Illinois lawmaker has proposed a bill that aims to prevent law enforcement from stopping drivers who exceed the speed limit by up to 25 mph and engage in other traffic violations.
The bill proposes changes to the Illinois Vehicle Code, which would prevent law enforcement officers from making traffic stops on vehicles in the state for certain offenses.
Offenses involve exceeding the speed limit by up to 25 mph. The bill specifies that officers are authorized to pull over drivers who have committed felony or misdemeanor speeding violations.
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When driving in Illinois, exceeding the speed limit by 26 mph or more will result in a Class B misdemeanor, and going 35 mph or more over the limit will lead to a Class A misdemeanor.
The bill specifies that officers are prohibited from using any evidence obtained during a stop involving speeders exceeding 25 mph over the limit in court, regardless of whether the evidence was obtained with the driver’s consent.
Illinois Bill Seeks Limits on Traffic Stops
In Illinois, driving 26 miles an hour or more over the speed limit is classified as a misdemeanor under the law. If the situation escalates to a misdemeanor or felony, law enforcement has the authority to stop you.
According to the bill, there is a long list of traffic violations that officers would not be able to stop someone for, such as:
- Too much tint
- Malfunctioning mirrors
- Having a registration sticker that has expired
- Blocked windshield/ineffective windshield wipers
- Failure to wear a seat belt
- There are no registration plates or stickers present.
- There is an abundance of exhaust
- Flawed bumpers
- Failing to adhere to car lamp regulations
Another provision in the bill states that if law enforcement stops a driver for exceeding the speed limit by more than 25 mph, any evidence obtained during that stop cannot be admitted in court, even if the driver consents.
State Representative Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago) introduced the bill. He played a significant role in sponsoring Illinois’ Safe-T Act, which eliminated cash bail in the state last year.
The bill is currently under consideration by the House and is being reviewed by a Rules Committee.
