The era of the split speed limit may soon end in Illinois.

HB1186, a bill to eliminate the split speed limit in Illinois, has passed both houses of the General Assembly. The measure is headed to the governor’s desk and may soon become law.

HB1186 would cut provisions in Illinois law that set up a slower speed for vehicles with a gross weight of more than 8,000 pounds. Those vehicles can now travel at 55 mph on the state’s highways, while other vehicles are limited to 65 mph. Under the new bill, all vehicles would face a 65 mph speed limit.

The bill is primarily of interest to rural parts of the state, the bill’s sponsor Rep. Dan Reitz, D-Sparta, said. Highways in the city of Chicago and its suburbs are likely to remain at 55 mph for all vehicles, as they are now.

A previous attempt to eliminate the split was killed after the Illinois State Police sent a letter to legislators just before the final vote opposing the bill. However, Reitz told Land Line earlier this year that the State Police had no intention of blocking the bill this time.

The bill generated considerable interested in the trucking community. Numerous truckers called OOIDA to ask about the bill, and OOIDA General Vice President Woody Chambers and his wife, Paula Chambers, were present when testimony on the bill was heard in the Senate Transportation Committee.

The bill passed the Senate 45-9 on May 7 and was approved in the House 86-18 in March. In the Senate, the bill was sponsored by Sen. George Shadid, who is chairman of the Transportation Committee.

If HB1186 becomes law, it would become effective Jan. 1, 2004.

--by Mark H. Reddig, associate editor

Mark Reddig can be reached at mreddig@landlinemag.com.