Illinois State Rep. Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago/27th District) has announced that he is not going to move House Bill 4603 in this session — a bill that if passed would seriously hamper law enforcement in many dimensions connected to traffic stops.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office on Friday, February 2, 2024 reiterated that on Monday, January 29, 2024, Representative Justin Slaughter introduced House Bill 4603 to the 103rd General Assembly. The bill lists that no law enforcement officer shall stop a motor vehicle for:
• failing to display registration plates or stickers.
• being operated with an expired registration sticker.
• violating general speed restrictions (unless that violation is a misdemeanor (25 mph over the posted speed limit) or felony offense (35 mph over the posted speed limit)).
• improper lane usage (unless that violation is a misdemeanor or felony offense).
• failing to comply with certain requirements concerning vehicle lamps.
• excessive tint.
• defective mirrors.
• an obstructed windshield or defective windshield wipers.
• defective bumpers.
• excessive exhaust.
• failure of the vehicle operator to wear a safety belt.
The proposed bill also provides that no evidence discovered or obtained as the result of a stop in violation of these provisions, including, but not limited to, evidence discovered or obtained with the operator’s consent, shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding. Preempts home rule powers.
Traffic enforcement is one of many important functions law enforcement is tasked with, according to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office. Traffic enforcement keeps roadways safe, reduces crime and saves lives. This bill limits Illinois law enforcement deputies’ and officers’ ability to provide safe roads for the motoring public and safety for the community as a whole.
On January 31, 2024, Rep. Slaughter contacted the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association (ISA) advising he was not going to move the bill in this session, citing the bill was written significantly broader than he intended. Rep. Slaughter credited the ISA and its members for contacting him with issues this proposed bill would cause and wants to engage with law enforcement leaders on future bills.
We encourage the community to communicate with their local legislative leaders about proposed legislation and what it means to the safety of their respective communities. The Sheriff’s Office will continue to work with our legislative partners, along with the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association and Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, to educate lawmakers on the effects bills like these have. We will continue to ensure the safety of our community isn’t jeopardized.
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