Legislation Follows "Sign and Drive" Law Signed this Summer
CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today signed a new law that allows persons charged with certain minor traffic offenses to pay their fines or penalties without appearing in court. The legislation follows the "Sign and Drive" law recently signed by Governor Quinn that ends the practice of requiring individuals to give up their driver's license as security for traffic violations. Both laws are part of Governor Quinn's agenda to make Illinois government more accountable, transparent and effective.
"Motorists can now stay out of court when all they need to do is pay a fine for a minor traffic offense," Governor Quinn said. "This new law helps reduce the burden on drivers and our court system by cutting the number of unnecessary minor cases."
Senate Bill 3509, sponsored by State Senator Michael Noland (D-Elgin) and State Representative John D'Amico (D-Chicago), allows motorists ticketed with certain petty traffic violations to plead guilty and pay their fines without a court appearance. This is companion legislation to a previously approved law that eliminated the requirement that a valid driver's license be posted as bail for certain traffic offenses. Both laws are effective January 1, 2015.
Governor Quinn has signed a number of new laws to make travel on Illinois roadways safer and more convenient. Last year he signed legislation to prohibit the use of all hand-held mobile phones while driving on Illinois roads and to increase the penalties where any use of an electronic device while driving is the cause of an accident. This summer, Governor Quinn signed legislation to prohibit municipalities from requiring police officers to meet ticket quotas and to prevent quotas from being used to evaluate an officer's performance.
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