§ 71.002 SPECIAL SPEED LIMITS WHILE PASSING SCHOOLS AND WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION OR MAINTENANCE ZONES.
   (A)   School zones.
      (1)   For the purpose of this section, a SCHOOL DAY shall begin at 7:00 a.m. and shall conclude at 4:00 p.m.
      (2)   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; or
         (c)   A public, private or religious nursery school.
      (3)   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 mph while passing a school zone, or while traveling on a roadway on public school property or upon any public thoroughfare where children pass going to and from school.
      (4)   This section shall not be applicable unless appropriate signs are posted upon streets and maintained by the village wherein the school zone is located. With regard to the special speed limit while passing schools, 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.
      (5)   Nothing in this subchapter 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 speeding; provided the use of the device shall apply only to the enforcement of the speed limit in the special school speed zone.
   (B)   Special limit while traveling through highway construction or maintenance speed zones.
      (1)   A person may not operate a motor vehicle in a construction or maintenance speed zone at a speed in excess of the posted speed limit.
      (2)   Nothing in this subchapter prohibits the use of electronic speed-detecting devices within 500 feet of signs within a construction or maintenance speed zone indicating the zone, as defined in this section, nor shall evidence obtained by use of those devices be inadmissible in any prosecution for speeding; provided the use of the device shall apply only to the enforcement of the speed limit in the construction or maintenance speed zone.
      (3)   (a)   As used in this section, a CONSTRUCTION OR MAINTENANCE SPEED ZONE is an area in which the Department, Toll Highway Authority or a local agency has determined that the pre-existing established speed limit through a highway construction or maintenance project is greater than is reasonable or safe with respect to the conditions expected to exist in the construction or maintenance speed zone and has posted a lower speed limit with a highway construction or maintenance speed zone special speed limit sign.
         (b)   Highway construction or maintenance speed zone special speed limit signs shall be of a design approved by the Department. The signs must give proper due warning that a construction or maintenance speed zone is being approached and must indicate the maximum speed limit in effect. The signs must also state the amount of the minimum fine for a violation.
      (4)   The Transportation Safety Highway Hire-Back Fund, which was created by Public Act § 92-619, shall continue to be a special fund in the State Treasury. Subject to appropriation by the General Assembly and approval by the Secretary, the Secretary of Transportation shall use all monies in the Transportation Safety Highway Hire-Back Fund to hire off-duty Department of State Police Officers to monitor construction or maintenance zones.
      (5)   For a second or subsequent violation of this division (B) within two years of the date of the previous violation, the Secretary of State shall suspend the driver’s license of the violator for a period of 90 days.
(Prior Code, § 71.002) Penalty, see § 71.999
Statutory reference:
   Similar provisions, see 625 ILCS 5/11-605(a) and (c) and 625 ILCS 5/11-605.1