SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Mike Porfirio introduced a measure to help local authorities implement changes that would improve road safety in their areas.
“This legislation puts the safety of our community first by making it easier for local governments to implement safety precautions,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “In situations where changes to speed limits are urgently needed, we want to streamline the process for local municipalities.”
House Bill 5081 would give state and local authorities more structured flexibility to set lower speed limits based on safety principles, while emphasizing safety over revenue in enforcement. The legislation also gives clear standards for transparency that must be upheld by municipalities, including requiring any revenue from speed cameras to be spent on public safety, infrastructure and community programs.
Current law states that the speed limit in an urban district is 30 miles per hour for all vehicles and 15 miles per hour in an alley, unless another speed restriction is established. This measure would give the opportunity for speed limit reductions without a full engineering study if certain criteria are met.
House Bill 5081 passed the Senate Executive Committee on Wednesday.
