• Extends the permit phase from three months to nine months.  This proposal will give the novice driver more time to learn under the watchful eye of parents through a variety of weather conditions common throughout Illinois.
• Shifts the nighttime driving restriction from 11 pm to 10 pm on weekdays and from Midnight to 11pm on weekends for all drivers under the age of 18 and those who fail to graduate from the initial licensing phase.
• Doubles the period- from six months to 12 months- that restricts a new driver to a maximum of one unrelated teen passenger.
• Requires drivers under age 18 who are ticketed for traffic vioations to appear before a judge with a parent or guardian to receive court supervision.  This legislation also requires the attendance of traffic school as a requisite for court supervision for drivers under the age of 21.  This ensures that the parent or guardian is fully aware of the minor's traffic violation and understands the requirements and ramifications of court supervision. 
• Tickets the passengers age 15 to 20, in addition to the drivers, who violate the passenger restriction law.
• Requires student drivers to complete a minimum six hours of actual, on-the-street driving with a certified driver education instructor.  No simulators or proficiency test alternatives.  This will be effective July 1, 2008.
• Implements a true Graduated Driver Licensing system that requires new drivers to earn their way from one stage to the next.  Under this provision, once issued a learner's permit a teen would be required to drive conviction free for nine months before he or she would beeligible for a driver's license.  The teen would then also have to drive conviction free for six months in addition to reaching age 18 before moving from the intial licensing phase to the full licensing phase.  Until graduating to the full licensing phase, these young drivers would be subject to the limitations of the initial phase including, the nighttime restriction and the cell phone ban among others.
• Implements a stricter law in which the drivers' licenses of those under 21 would be suspended for each additional conviction following a driver's initial suspension for two moving violations in a 24-month period.  This provision puts young drivers on notice that once their drivers' licneses have been suspended, each additional conviction until they turn 21 will result in another suspension of their driving privileges.
• Establishes tough, new penalties- including license revocation and vehicle impoundment for drivers who are involved in street racing.

We are frequently asked questions about the age requirements in respect to child restraint systems and seat belts.  Here is the Child Passenger Protection Act.

25/4.    Transporting child under the age of 8;  restraint system

      4.    When any person is transporting a child in this State under the age of 8 years in a non-commercial motor vehicle of the first division, a motor vehicle of the second division with a gross vehicle weight rating of 9,000 pounds or less, or a recreational vehicle on the roadways, streets or highways of this State, such person shall be responsible for providing for the protection of such child by properly securing him or her in an appropriate child restraint system.  The parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of 8 years shall provide a child restraint system to any person who transports his or her child.  Any person who transports the child of another shall not be in violation of this section unless a child restraint system was provided by the parent or legal guardian but not used to transport the child.

For the purposes of this section and section 4b, "child restraint system" means an device which meets the standards of the United States Department of Transportation designed to restrain, seat or position children, which also includes a booster seat.

    A child weighing more than 40 pounds may be transported in the back seat of a motor vehicle while wearing only a lap belt if the back seat of the motor vehicle is not equipped with a combination lap and shoulder belt.

25/4a.  Children 8 years of age or older but under 16;  restraint system or seat belts.

      4a.  Every person, when transporting a child 8 years of age or older but under 16, as provided in Section 4 of this Act, shall be responsible for properly securing that child in seat belts.

25/4b.   Children 8 years of age or older but under the age of 19; seat belts

      4b.   Every person under the age of 18 years, when transporting a child 8 years of age or older but under the age of 19 years, as provided in Section 4 of this Act, shall be responsible for securing that child in a properly adjusted and fastened seat safety belt or an appropriate child restraint system.