Chicago City Wire

A bill sponsored by Illinois State Rep. Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago) that bars Illinois judges from suspending the driver's licenses of speeders who refuse to show up for court will soon be signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

House Bill 277 removes the power of judges to suspend a violator's drivers license for not paying, or for refusing to show up to court. And it reinstates the drivers licenses of anyone whose has been suspended for unpaid tickets since Jan. 1, 2020. 

Illinois state law currently states that an individual fails to show up for court, the judge must enter an "order of failure to appear" and notify the Illinois Secretary of State, who "shall immediately suspend the person's driver's license."

"The Secretary shall not remove the suspension, nor issue any permit or privileges to the person whose license has been suspended, until notified by the ordering court that the person has appeared and resolved the violation."

House Bill 277 removes this clause in the law and, instead requires the court to send violators more notices and warnings.

Slaughter said current law is unfair to black Illinoisans, who disproportionately fail to pay their traffic ticket fines, and to appear at their court dates.

Slaughter said the bill is necessary to "modernize our procedures for persons who receive traffic tickets."

The bill's sponsors in the Illinois State Senate include Murphy, State Sen. Ceilna Villaneuva (D-Chicago), State Sen. Javier Cervantes (D-Chicago), State Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Waukegan), State Sen. Mary Edly-Allen (D-Grayslake), State Sen. Christopher Belt (D-East St. Louis) and State Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago).

The bill's sponsors in the Illinois House include Slaughter, State Rep. Nicholas K. Smith (D-Chicago) and State Rep. Gregg Johnson (D-East Moline).