SPRINGFIELD –– The Illinois Senate Transportation Committee
unanimously approved legislation today that requires all court
supervisions to be reported to the Secretary of State.
The legislation is an outgrowth of Secretary of State Jesse
White’s Highway Safety 2000 Advisory Panel, which was formed in
early 1999 to investigate concerns raised by a tragic, fatal
crash between an Amtrak passenger train and a semi-trailer in
Bourbannais.
"Last year a very unfortunate accident between an Amtrak
passenger train and a tractor-trailer claimed the lives of 11
people," said Secretary of State Jesse White. "What we learned
from that tragic accident, is that the driver of the truck had a
long history of bad driving and an established record of abusing
court supervision to continue driving legally.
"It’s unfortunate that it sometimes takes a tragedy to
uncover the shortcomings of a system," White added. "Thanks to
the dedication and effort of the Highway Safety 2000 Advisory
Panel, we are attempting to make changes today that could prevent
future tragedies."
House Bill 2883 gives the Secretary of State authority to
establish a centralized database of dispositions of court
supervision for drivers in all 102 counties in Illinois and
requires the circuit clerk of each county to provide the
Secretary of State with information on every court supervision.
The legislation also provides that all the information reported
to the Secretary of State is available only to the affected
driver and for use by the courts, police officers, prosecuting
authorities and the Secretary of State.
"Under the current system, it is impossible for counties to
be aware of a person’s history of obtaining court supervision,"
said Senator Walter Dudycz (R-Chicago), lead sponsor of the
legislation and member of the Highway Safety 2000 Advisory Panel.
"This legislation would ensure judges and prosecutors have a
complete picture of a person’s driving habits when prosecuting
traffic offenders."
White said the start-up cost for the program would be paid
for by a federal grant. The $356,845 grant is provided through
the Federal Highway Administration and the National Highway
Safety Administration and is administered by the Illinois
Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety.
