By State Sen. Jim Oberweis -
Senate Bill 2015, which I sponsored, brings the state’s Toll Highway system in Chicago up to the same 70 mph speed limit as the rest of the state, unless the Toll Highway Authority can prove that speed is unsafe on those roadways.
In my opinion, Tollway drivers should be able to already drive 70 mph, under the new law. Any delay for safety studies is ridiculous because this legislation first passed in May and transportation officials have had plenty of time to conduct these studies. I will be working with them to get these studies done as quickly as possible.
Senate Bill 2015 had been vetoed by Gov. Pat Quinn, but the General Assembly voted to override that veto during the fall veto session. The legislation is a follow-up measure to legislation I also sponsored that took effect in 2014, raising Illinois’ speed limit on interstate highways to 70 mph.
Legislation reinstating “sign and drive” will also take effect on Jan. 1. House Bill 2583 prohibits law enforcement from taking a driver’s license as bail following a traffic law or ordinance violation. Currently, Illinois is one of only six states that confiscate a driver’s license for a minor traffic offense.
