§ 71.011 SPECIAL SPEED LIMITS WHILE PASSING SCHOOLS.
   (A)   (1)   For the purpose of this section, SCHOOL means the following entities:
         (a)   A public or private primary or secondary school.
         (b)   A primary or secondary school operated by a religious institution.
         (c)   A public, private, or religious nursery school.
      (2)   For the purpose of this section, a SCHOOL DAY shall begin at 7:00 a.m. and shall conclude at 4:00 p.m.
   (B)   On a school day when school children are present and so close thereto that a potential hazard exists because of the close proximity of the motorized traffic, no person shall drive a motor vehicle at a speed in excess of 20 miles per hour while passing a school zone, or while traveling upon any public thoroughfare where children pass going to and from school.
   (C)   This section shall not be applicable unless appropriate signs are posted upon streets wherein the school zone is located. The signs shall give proper due warning that a school zone is being approached, and shall indicate the school zone and the maximum speed limit in effect during school days when school children are present. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the use of electronic speed-detecting devices within 500 feet of signs within a special school speed zone indicating the zone, as defined in this section, nor shall evidence obtained thereby be inadmissible in any prosecution for speed, provided the use of the device shall apply only to the enforcement of the speed limit in the special school speed zone.
   (D)   Except as provided in ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, §11-605(e-5), a person who violates this section is guilty of a petty offense. Violations of this section are punishable with a minimum fine of $150 for the first violation and a minimum fine of $300 for the second or subsequent violation.
   (E)   (1)   When a fine for a violation of this section is $150 or greater, the person who violates the section shall be charged an additional $50 to be paid to the unit school district where the violation occurred for school safety purposes. If the violation occurred in a dual school district, $25 of the surcharge shall be paid to the elementary school district for school safety purposes and $25 of the surcharge shall be paid to the high school district for school safety purposes. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the entire $50 surcharge shall be paid to the appropriate school district or districts.
      (2)   For purposes of this section, SCHOOL SAFETY PURPOSES include the costs associated with school zone safety education and the purchase, installation, and maintenance of caution lights which are mounted on school speed zone signs.
(Ord. 04-41, passed 11-8-04) Penalty, see § 71.999
Statutory reference:
   For similar provisions under state law, see ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 11-605