https://lawenforcementtoday.com/pur...ld-eliminate-traffic-stops-for-minor-offenses
CHICAGO, IL— A new bill proposed in the Illinois legislature could seriously curtain police officers' ability to enforce traffic laws in the state by strictly limiting the reasons that law enforcement can pull over a motorist, effectively allowing illegal vehicles to not only travel the roads but to speed with impunity.
The bill, introduced by Democrat State Rep. Justin Slaughter, will, if passed, prohibit police from making traffic stops for offenses such as failing to display license plates or expired registration stickers, in addition to illegally tinted windows and safety issues such as damaged mirrors and bumpers or excessive exhaust.
But by far the bill, House Bill 4603 has faced the most scrutiny and derision for its elimination of traffic stops for speeding below the misdemeanor or felony level or improper lane changing. In other words, Illinois drivers would never see enforcement for speeding under 25-35 mph over the limit, as reported by NBC Chicago.
Executive director of the Illinois Sheriff’s Association Jim Kaitschuk explained, "If you think about that, you are in a 30-mile-an-hour speed zone in a residential area and somebody’s going 50 and we can’t stop the vehicle?" He told reporters that the move could create a major safety issue in neighborhoods where children play.
Kaitschuk also expressed concerns that the new law could severely impact the ability of police to initiate traffic stops for improper lane changes. He described the act of weaving from lane to lane as being a tell-tale indicator of a possible DUI. "Under this, we wouldn't have been able to stop them," he said.
As noted by the Lake McHenry Scanner, the bill isn't Slaughter's first foray into restricting law enforcement in Illinois. He was one of the lead sponsors of the so-called "SAFE-T Act" that ended cash-bail in the state as of September.
Slaughter when reached for comment by WICS provided a statement on the bill, “For decades, Illinois has wrestled with the challenge of racial bias in traffic stops, and the disparate outcomes that are too often the result. At no point in this effort has anyone’s goal been to take away the tools police need to keep communities safe, but instead to continue an important conversation.
"House Bill 4603 continues that conversation. It’s my hope that discussions with law enforcement and advocates can identify minor infractions that on their own do not necessitate a traffic stop."
Arturo Garza of Pilsen disagreed with the proposed law telling reporters, "It’s going to be pure chaos, crime is going to go up; violations are going to go up; accidents are going to go up."
CHICAGO, IL— A new bill proposed in the Illinois legislature could seriously curtain police officers' ability to enforce traffic laws in the state by strictly limiting the reasons that law enforcement can pull over a motorist, effectively allowing illegal vehicles to not only travel the roads but to speed with impunity.
The bill, introduced by Democrat State Rep. Justin Slaughter, will, if passed, prohibit police from making traffic stops for offenses such as failing to display license plates or expired registration stickers, in addition to illegally tinted windows and safety issues such as damaged mirrors and bumpers or excessive exhaust.
But by far the bill, House Bill 4603 has faced the most scrutiny and derision for its elimination of traffic stops for speeding below the misdemeanor or felony level or improper lane changing. In other words, Illinois drivers would never see enforcement for speeding under 25-35 mph over the limit, as reported by NBC Chicago.
Executive director of the Illinois Sheriff’s Association Jim Kaitschuk explained, "If you think about that, you are in a 30-mile-an-hour speed zone in a residential area and somebody’s going 50 and we can’t stop the vehicle?" He told reporters that the move could create a major safety issue in neighborhoods where children play.
Kaitschuk also expressed concerns that the new law could severely impact the ability of police to initiate traffic stops for improper lane changes. He described the act of weaving from lane to lane as being a tell-tale indicator of a possible DUI. "Under this, we wouldn't have been able to stop them," he said.
As noted by the Lake McHenry Scanner, the bill isn't Slaughter's first foray into restricting law enforcement in Illinois. He was one of the lead sponsors of the so-called "SAFE-T Act" that ended cash-bail in the state as of September.
Slaughter when reached for comment by WICS provided a statement on the bill, “For decades, Illinois has wrestled with the challenge of racial bias in traffic stops, and the disparate outcomes that are too often the result. At no point in this effort has anyone’s goal been to take away the tools police need to keep communities safe, but instead to continue an important conversation.
"House Bill 4603 continues that conversation. It’s my hope that discussions with law enforcement and advocates can identify minor infractions that on their own do not necessitate a traffic stop."
Arturo Garza of Pilsen disagreed with the proposed law telling reporters, "It’s going to be pure chaos, crime is going to go up; violations are going to go up; accidents are going to go up."
