Illinois bill would slam the brakes on unprepared drivers
An Illinois lawmaker is ready to hit the brakes on would-be drivers who aren’t road-ready. The proposal would affect truck drivers and motorists.
Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterich, said he took action after a husband and wife were killed in a crash in Westfield, Ill.
The driver accused of causing the wreck is reportedly an illegal immigrant from Honduras. He was driving a conversion van when he allegedly crossed the center line and hit the couple head-on.
Niemerg blamed Gov. JB Pritzker for the situation.
“What happened in my district is inexcusable,” Niemerg said. “Two upstanding, honest citizens are dead because our insane governor continues to put illegal aliens above law-abiding citizens.”
He also said the crash could have been prevented.
House Bill 4184
Niemerg’s bill aims to prevent similar crashes with several new rules.
Non-U.S. citizens would not be allowed to get or renew a driver’s license or permit. Only U.S. citizens could get a commercial learner’s permit.
Niemerg stated that the truck driver rule would “prohibit lawfully permanent residents or foreign domiciled persons from applying for a commercial learner’s permit.”
The bill would also require proof of English language proficiency. Applicants would need to show they can read and write in English.
HB4184 has been sent to the House Rules Committee. It can be taken up when the regular session starts Jan. 14.
Wyoming is also looking into the issue
A similar effort in Wyoming focuses on enforcing English-language requirements for truck drivers.
The Transportation, Highways, and Military Affairs Committee has voted to introduce a bill next session that would reference the federal English proficiency rule.
Federal regulations have long required truck drivers to show sufficient English proficiency to read and understand road signs. But since 2015, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has not taken noncompliant drivers out of service.
In March, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association petitioned the CVSA to reinstate the out-of-service penalty for noncompliant drivers. Shortly after, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to enforce federal law.
The law requires commercial vehicle drivers to “read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public.” It includes requirements “to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries and to make entries on reports and records.”
CVSA then reinstated the out-of-service penalty for truck drivers who do not meet the English standard.
The Wyoming bill draft states that drivers who keep operating after being placed out of service could face fines of up to $2,000 and/or up to 90 days in jail.
Motor carriers would not face penalties. The Highway Patrol and the Wyoming Department of Transportation advised against penalizing carriers.
“Not to say that we don’t disagree that it’s the motor carrier who is hiring the individual who is breaking the law. At this point, I know … they are working on that on a federal level to ensure that there’s some penalties on the carrier, as opposed to the operator,” WYDOT Director Darin Westby testified.
County sheriffs and local police would enforce state penalties on truck drivers who violate the federal rule.
Lawmakers can take up the bill when the session begins Feb. 9. LL