7 thoughts on “PI explains the law to state trooper”

1. what about the rule regarding passing a school bus. I always thought you had to stop if you were going the opposite direction on a four lane road like Sheridan Rd. If the road was five lanes with a center turn lane then only the vehicles going the same direction as the bus had to stop.
   They said on the news last night if you are on a four lane road and going the opposite direction you don’t have to stop?? I’m confused and this is important because passing a school bus with it’s stop arm out will cost you your license for three months and the bus driver can turn you in.

2. According to the Secretary of State’s website, under “Special Stops”:

   You do not always need to stop when meeting a stopped school bus on a roadway with four or more lanes. You do not need to stop if you are traveling in the opposite direction of the bus, but you should drive cautiously.

3. Now that is interesting because last year I turned someone in for passing in the opposite direction of a stopped school bus and at that time I was told if there was a middle turning lane or islands in the middle of the road it was okay to pass. If not you must stop and they didn’t say anything about four lanes with no middle lane.

4. this is why I am confused about the law. A perfect example of why it seems like you should stop on four lanes is Sheridan road between Main and the McClure area. It is technically four lanes but most use the main inside lanes because the outside lanes are pretty tight. If I met a school bus going the other way with it’s stop arm out I wouldn’t think twice about stopping but according to the law it says I don’t?

5. Here it is specifically spelled out in state law, under 625 ILCS 5/11-1414(e):

   The driver of a vehicle upon a highway having 4 or more lanes which permits at least 2 lanes of traffic to travel in opposite directions need not stop such vehicle upon meeting a school bus which is stopped in the opposing roadway; and need not stop such vehicle when driving upon a controlled access highway when passing a school bus traveling in either direction that is stopped in a loading zone adjacent to the surfaced or improved part of the controlled access highway where pedestrians are not permitted to cross.

   So, peoriafan, you’re right. I’m with you — if I encountered a bus on Sheridan where you said, I would stop, too. But the law doesn’t require it.

6. but is there a difference between roadway & highway? to me there is– roadway (Sheridan) is a residential city street, highway (War Memorial)is not.

7. Definitions (bold added) from IL compiled statutes:

   (625 ILCS 5/1-126) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1-126)
   Sec. 1-126. Highway. The entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel or located on public school property.
   (Source: P.A. 92-780, eff. 8-6-02.)

   (625 ILCS 5/1-179) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1-179)
   Sec. 1-179. Roadway. That portion of a highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder. In the event a highway includes two or more separate roadways the term “roadway” as used herein shall refer to any such roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively.
   (Source: P.A. 76-1586.)

   (625 ILCS 5/1-201) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1-201)
   Sec. 1-201. Street. The entire width between boundary lines of every way publicly maintained, when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
   (Source: P.A. 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)

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