HB 1493

Abstract

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Requires a driver involved in an accident to report the accident to the Administrator of the Illinois Safety and Family Financial Responsibility Law of the Code within 10 days if the damage to the property of any one person as a result of the accident exceeds $1,500 (rather than $500). Provides that the written accident report forms supplied by the Administrator must call for detailed information with regard to the extent of any vehicle damage and prescribes a method for describing that damage. Provides that the Department of Transportation may supply vehicle-specific accident data to any person or entity in bulk electronic form after deleting specified private information. Provides that the person or entity must pay for the data and limits how the data may be used. Sets forth additional requirements for accessing the data. Requires the Department to create a vehicle history report database identifying vehicles damaged in accidents. Sets criteria for distribution and use of the reports compiled from the database. Makes other changes. Provides that a violation of the new provisions is an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that the new provisions are inseverable and, if they are held invalid, any person or entity that previously obtained access to accident data under the new provisions shall destroy the data and discontinue using the data in vehicle history reports. Effective immediately.