Gov. Pat Quinn has signed legislation ending the practice of posting a driver's license as security after certain traffic citations, meaning drivers now may sign a citation as their guarantee they will appear in court or pay a fine.
Quinn's office made the announcement involving the so-called "Sign and Drive" legislation late Saturday evening. The Chicago Democrat said the measure, which takes immediate effect, will help Illinois motorists hold onto a vital piece of identification and also allow law enforcement officials to do their jobs.
The Secretary of State's Office still may suspend the driving privileges of any motorist who does not comply with the citation.
"No longer will motorists be inconvenienced by having to give up their driver's license for nothing more than a moving violation," said state Sen. Michael Noland of Elgin, who sponsored the measure with state Rep. John D'Amico, a fellow Democrat from Chicago.
D'Amico called the legislation "a piece of common-sense legislation aimed at cutting down on the instances of identification misuse or misplacement."
