IL eye protection law?

[oldgoat]

I went out for quick ride on the motorcycle. I was on I 39 doing about 65mph

when all of a sudden lights are flashing behind me. I pull over. and the officer said. you must have eye protection? I said the motorcycle has a wind screen. plus I had on my eye glasses. but had my helmet shield up. he said eye glasses are not safety type eye protection? he said put your helmet shield down and I wont give you a ticket? looking at the law it says as long as the motorcycle has a wind screen. no eye protection is needed.

me thinks he was having a bad day?

[pmelah]

atleast he gave you an option

[darthandy]

He couldn't have been having too bad a day if he gave you the option. I tend to think he didn't read the oriuginal document properly.

 

Andy

[Peder_y2k]

He just wanted a reason to have a closer look at your bike! Reminds me of years ago when I had a 1953 Jaguar XK120 FHC, cruising old roads at 120mph, got pulled over several times, they started asking questions about the old car so I gave them the 'show and tell'........... and never got a ticket!

-Pete, in Tacoma WA USA

'83,88

[Monty]

Windshield is sufficient in Illinois.

[kevin-vic-b.c.]

I was under the impression that Washington State has some similar regulation about eye protection. I always ride with full face but before I had to wear eyeglasses full time I would often have the visor open and at best a drug store pair of sun glasses. My new helmet has a drop down sun visor and I do now carry proper safety rated sun glasses when wearing contacts. I do not know if there is a similar reg here at home but I am going to look into it.

[dacheedah]

I went out for quick ride on the motorcycle. I was on I 39 doing about 65mph

when all of a sudden lights are flashing behind me. I pull over. and the officer said. you must have eye protection? I said the motorcycle has a wind screen. plus I had on my eye glasses. but had my helmet shield up. he said eye glasses are not safety type eye protection? he said put your helmet shield down and I wont give you a ticket? looking at the law it says as long as the motorcycle has a wind screen. no eye protection is needed.

me thinks he was having a bad day?

 

He is absolutely wrong, I was a LEO in the state of Illinois for 30 years. I would suggest a conversation with his supervisor. U don't need a thing as long as the windshield is above eye level while seated upright and in the "normal" riding position. Next all eyeglasses are made with shatter resistant glass, thats a law, even sun glasses, so he has a burden of proof that you were sold illegal lenses. Next time I suggest you ask to see his ILCS chapter 625 5/ vehicle code, so he can point it out to you.

 

(625 ILCS 5/11-1404) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1404)

Sec. 11-1404. Special equipment for persons riding motorcycles, motor driven cycles or mopeds.

(a) The operator of a motorcycle, motor driven cycle or moped and every passenger thereon shall be protected by glasses, goggles or a transparent shield.

(b) For the purposes of this Section, glasses, goggles, and transparent shields are defined as follows:

"Glasses" means ordinary eye pieces such as spectacles or sunglasses worn before the eye, made of shatter-resistant material. Shatter-resistant material, as used in this Section, means material so manufactured, fabricated, or created that it substantially prevents shattering or flying when struck or broken.

"Goggles" means a device worn before the eyes, the predominant function of which is protecting the eyes without obstructing peripheral vision. Goggles shall provide protection from the front and sides, and may or may not form a complete seal with the face.

"Transparent shield" means a windshield attached to the front of a motorcycle that extends above the eyes when an operator is seated in the normal, upright riding position, made of shatter-resistant material, or a shatter-resistant protective face shield that covers the wearer's eyes and face at least to a point approximately to the tip of the nose.

© Contact lenses are not acceptable eye protection devices.

(Source: P.A. 96-554, eff. 1-1-10.)

[Monty]

Well, that leaves out Clearview windshields. They will shatter at the drop of a hat. I know this personally.

[leo3wheel]

Know for a fact that spectacles are good eye protection. Just ask my wife...

[rickardracing]

Print off a copy of that law wherever you found it and keep it in your trunk. Next time if you get pulled over, show it to him. If he makes an issue, have him get a supervisor out there. Sometimes the leo's need there pp smacked.

[dacheedah]

They work among us, we have those that probably shouldn't be doing a job and make the rest look bad. I have had arguments with LEO's before where they stop and mis cite you the law, WRONG. I would ask to see their traffic law book and usually comment something like when did they change that . . . and I have gone to a chief when they were young and stupid. As a supervisor I will tell you that people are reluctant to complain and it's the only way to weed out the problem children. You must take a soft but assertive approach and I go evidence in hand.

 

I don't take an arguing approach but a curiosity approach, do you have your book? I'd like to see that please.

 

The officer should have called in the stop and the dispatch should have cad'd the call and disposition. As an officer I have a few other approaches but I won't throw them out here other than to tell you he was absolutely wrong and is misguided.

[djh3]

No ticket, I ain challenging squat. I'm gettin on the scoot and high tailing it outa there.

[oldgoat]

I just put the shield down on my helmet. said have a good day officer. waited till he pulled out and away then I went on my way. took the next exit back to my town.

glad to see I did not break the law. if I would have got a ticket I was going to fight it.

[abusive throttle cranker]

In my experience u mess with a cop u will LOSE! He will make it his personal business to assure it! Cops generally speaking have an ego problem.

[AngryAmish]

in Florida, eyewear is mandatory

[Prairiehammer]

Perhaps the cop was going by the Secretary of State's Motorcycle Operator Manual:

Eye and Face Protection

A plastic, shatter-resistant faceshield can help protect your whole face in a crash.

It also protects you from wind, dust, dirt, rain, insects and pebbles thrown from

cars ahead. These problems are distracting and can be painful, and divert your

attention from concentrating on the road.

Goggles protect your eyes, although they will not protect the rest of your face like

a faceshield does. A windshield is not a substitute for a faceshield or goggles.

Most windshields will not protect your eyes from the wind. Neither will eyeglasses

or sunglasses. Glasses will not keep your eyes from watering and they may

blow off when you turn your head while riding.

To be effective, eye or faceshield protection must:

• Be free of scratches.

• Be resistant to penetration.

• Give a clear view to either side.

• Fasten securely so it does not blow off.

• Permit air to pass through to reduce fogging.

• Permit enough room for eyeglasses or sunglasses, if needed.

Tinted eye protection should not be worn at night or any other time when little

light is available.

 

http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_x140.pdf

 

...all eyeglasses are made with shatter resistant glass.

 

Not true. I recently spent nearly $300 for prescription eyeglasses and dropped them the next day onto the tile countertop in the bathroom and the lens shattered. When I purchased the 'glasses, I had the option of glass or plastic lenses. Since I encounter a lot of dirt and dust in my occupation, plastic lenses always end up scratched, so I opted for glass lenses. Industrial safety glasses are impact resistant plastic, by law, but ordinary prescription eyeglasses can be glass or plastic.

[frankd]

Here in Illinois, you don't have to wear a helmet when you ride. The only eye protection normally worn by the riders that don't use helmets is a pair of sunglasses. How many tickets has this LEO written for people NOT wearing proper eye protection when they don't wear helmets?

[cabreco]

Like Vincent LaGuardia Gambini would've said to the cop:

 

"So, here are my options. Option A: I put my helmet shield down and you wont give me a ticket or Option B: I tell you you're wrong & we fight the ticket in court. I think I'm gonna go with Option B: making you look ignorant in open court."

 

But then I'm from NYC, we LOVE to argue!

[JohnT]

Like Vincent LaGuardia Gambini would've said to the cop:

 

"So, here are my options. Option A: I put my helmet shield down and you wont give me a ticket or Option B: I tell you you're wrong & we fight the ticket in court. I think I'm gonna go with Option B: making you look ignorant in open court."

 

But then I'm from NYC, we LOVE to argue!

I like it. Now, I am from NY, but live MUCH closer to Canada than NYC.

Last week in NC I got stoped in a road block at the top of Green River Cove Road. It gets set up every Memorial Day to screen the white water kayakers. 15 minutes later I get stopped going back down. (quick trip to the store for more ice) When asked if I had my license,again, I had to respond, "I had it 15 minutes ago when I came up, and have managed to not lose it in that time."

I did not say it in a mean spirited way, just casually. He waved me on.

[cabreco]

"I had it 15 minutes ago when I came up, and have managed to not lose it in that time."

 

It's funny though, the older you get the more mellow you become. Here's a story from my youth.

 

22 years old. I was driving on Staten Island NY on the highway in my Porsche 911 doing 110 in a 55mph at 4 am. I get pulled over by a NYC policecar. (I have a Jersey License) So, he takes my paperwork & goes back to his patrol car. 15 minutes go by & I'm still waiting.

 

I get out of my car walk back to the cruiser & knock on the drivers window (I startled the cop) He rolls down his window & before he could speak I say:

" I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICED, BUT I WAS IN A HURRY!" !

- I'm lucky I didn't get shot

[dacheedah]

Not true. I recently spent nearly $300 for prescription eyeglasses and dropped them the next day onto the tile countertop in the bathroom and the lens shattered. When I purchased the 'glasses, I had the option of glass or plastic lenses. Since I encounter a lot of dirt and dust in my occupation, plastic lenses always end up scratched, so I opted for glass lenses. Industrial safety glasses are impact resistant plastic, by law, but ordinary prescription eyeglasses can be glass or plastic.

 

Shatter resistant is not the same standard as shatter proof. I am hopeful that while riding we don't encounter anything bigger than a bug. Butt it is Illinois so tile countertops on the roadway may be a possibility. . .

[Trader]

I aways ordered safety glass in my lenses...but my prescription got so thick that they told me they really wanted to avoid it for my comfort.

 

I ended up with a plastic lens....I think Cryzan?????

 

I'm not easy on my lenses but these really hold their own.

 

I've had these lenses for 3 years and only recently have noticed a bit of "hazing"....no major scratches or other problems.

 

 

I would not hesitate to get them again....and they are MUCH lighter than glass.

[dacheedah]

Perhaps the cop was going by the Secretary of State's Motorcycle Operator Manual:

Eye and Face Protection

A plastic, shatter-resistant faceshield can help protect your whole face in a crash.

It also protects you from wind, dust, dirt, rain, insects and pebbles thrown from

cars ahead. These problems are distracting and can be painful, and divert your

attention from concentrating on the road.

Goggles protect your eyes, although they will not protect the rest of your face like

a faceshield does. A windshield is not a substitute for a faceshield or goggles.

Most windshields will not protect your eyes from the wind. Neither will eyeglasses

or sunglasses. Glasses will not keep your eyes from watering and they may

blow off when you turn your head while riding.

To be effective, eye or faceshield protection must:

• Be free of scratches.

• Be resistant to penetration.

• Give a clear view to either side.

• Fasten securely so it does not blow off.

• Permit air to pass through to reduce fogging.

• Permit enough room for eyeglasses or sunglasses, if needed.

Tinted eye protection should not be worn at night or any other time when little

light is available.

 

http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_x140.pdf

 

Not true. I recently spent nearly $300 for prescription eyeglasses and dropped them the next day onto the tile countertop in the bathroom and the lens shattered. When I purchased the 'glasses, I had the option of glass or plastic lenses. Since I encounter a lot of dirt and dust in my occupation, plastic lenses always end up scratched, so I opted for glass lenses. Industrial safety glasses are impact resistant plastic, by law, but ordinary prescription eyeglasses can be glass or plastic.

 

That's a recommendation and what they teach in motorcycle safety, what I posted was the actual law, what da judge must use in court. It is reprinted every other year and in the odd years they reprint the cheat sheet.