(A) School zones.
(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 begins at 6:30 a.m. and concludes at 4:00 p.m.
(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 miles per hour while passing a school zone, or while traveling on a local, county, or state 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 wherein the school zone is located. With regard to the special speed limit while passing schools, such 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 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 speeding, provided the use of the device shall apply only to the enforcement of the speed limit in the special school speed zone.
(6) (a) Except as provided in division (A)(6)(b) of this section, 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, a minimum fine of $300 for the second or subsequent violation, and community service in an amount determined by the court.
(b) A person committing a violation of this section is guilty of aggravated special speed limit while passing schools when he or she drives a motor vehicle at a speed that is:
1. Twenty-six miles per hour or more but less than 35 miles per hour in excess of the applicable special speed limit established under this section or a similar provision of a local ordinance and is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor; or
2. Thirty-five miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable special speed limit established under this section or a similar provision of a local ordinance and is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
(ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 11-605)
(B) Highway construction or maintenance 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 when workers are present.
(2) 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 when workers are not present.
(3) Nothing in this chapter 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.
(4) (a) As used in this section, a CONSTRUCTION OR MAINTENANCE SPEED ZONE is an area in which the Department, toll highway authority, a local agency, or the city has posted signage advising drivers that a construction or maintenance speed zone is being approached, or in which the Department, authority, local agency or the city has posted a lower speed limit with a highway construction or maintenance speed zone special speed limit sign after determining that the preexisting 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.
(b) If it is determined that the preexisting established speed limit is safe with respect to the conditions expected to exist in the construction or maintenance speed zone, additional speed limit signs which conform to the requirements of this division (B)(4) and (5) shall be posted.
(5) 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.
(6) (a) 1. Except as provided under division (B)(6)(a)2. of this section, a person who violates this section is guilty of a petty offense. Violations of this section are punishable with a minimum fine of $250 for the first violation and a minimum fine of $750 for the second or subsequent violation.
2. A person committing a violation of this section is guilty of aggravated special speed limit while traveling through a highway construction or maintenance speed zone when he or she drives a motor vehicle at a speed that is:
a. Twenty-six miles per hour or more but less than 35 miles per hour in excess of the applicable special speed limit established under this section or a similar provision of a local ordinance and is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor; or
b. Thirty-five miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable special speed limit established under this Section or a similar provision of a local ordinance and is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
(ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 11-605.1(a) - (d-5))
(b) 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 moneys in the Transportation Safety Highway Hire-back Fund to hire off-duty Illinois State Police Officers to monitor construction or maintenance zones.
(ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 11-605.1(f))