Traffic Enforcement

Stop Required When Approaching a School Bus:

When and Where
Illinois law states that it is illegal to pass a school bus that is stopped to pick up or discharge riders.  The school bus stop sign arm must be extended and the lights flashing.  It's important to remember that this law applies "at any location". That means that a driver may be ticketed for violating this law when illegally passing a school bus in a parking lot as well as on the roadway.
 
Drivers who receive a citation for this offense MUST appear in court. Drivers who are convicted of this offense will have their driver’s license suspended for three months - and even longer for a second conviction.
 
Four-Lane Streets
The driver of a vehicle on a road having 4 or more lanes that permit at least 2 lanes of traffic to travel in the opposite direction, does not have to stop upon meeting a school bus that is stopped in the opposite direction.  For example, southbound traffic in the 2400 block of First Avenue (in River Grove), may cautiously proceed driving south when a school bus is stopped in the northbound curb lane with its stop sign extended and lights flashing.  In this example, both traffic lanes for northbound traffic (the same direction as the bus) must stop while the bus is stopped to pick up or discharge students (stop sign extended and lights flashing).

Read the Illinois Law
For detailed information on approaching, overtaking, or passing a school bus please read the Illinois law (625 ILCS 5/11-1414).

Traffic Enforcement

Regulating parking and traffic-related issues in River Grove are of high importance, and the officers of River Grove are extremely dedicated to keeping our streets safe. Under the chief’s directive, there is an increased presence for parking/traffic enforcement. To avoid receiving a citation please, buckle-up, obey our parking signs, obey our traffic control devices, and speed limits. Impaired and distracted driving is also illegal so avoid operating a vehicle when impaired and put the electronic devices down when operating a vehicle.

Street Sweeping Rule

The Village of River Grove has moved from a periodic street sweeping schedule to a year-round street maintenance schedule. This change will allow our public works department frequent access to streets for sweeping, snow removal, sewer maintenance, tree maintenance, etc. Please familiarize yourself with the updated street signs on your block.

Snowfall Exception

During a snowstorm, it is important that all residents obey their street signs. If during a snowfall your side of the street is scheduled for street maintenance, the street maintenance rule will override the 2-inch postings rule. After your side of the street is cleared of snow, residents need to move their vehicles to the clean side of the street so that River Grove Public Works can plow the other side of the street.

No Truck Route Added

In a continued effort to control high volume truck traffic in residential areas, the Village Board recently designated Fullerton Avenue (West of River Road) as a no-truck route.

Red Light Cameras

These cameras are traffic enforcement devices that capture an image of a vehicle that has entered an intersection against a red traffic light. By automatically photographing vehicles that run red lights, the camera produces evidence that assists authorities in their enforcement of traffic laws. The camera is triggered when a vehicle enters the intersection after the light has turned red. Vehicles must come to a complete stop before the white lines. A law enforcement official will review photographic evidence and determine whether a violation occurred. A citation is then mailed to the owner of the vehicle found to be in violation of the law.

Red Light Camera Locations

The village uses these traffic enforcement cameras in three places:

  • Grand Avenue eastbound at Thatcher Avenue
  • Thatcher Avenue southbound at Grand Avenue
  • River Road southbound at Grand Avenue

Village of River Grove Red Light Running (RLR) Statistical Analysis and Evaluation (PDF)

Hand-Held Electronic Devices

On July 1, 2019, the Illinois law regarding distracted driving was enhanced to increase penalties and to make this offense a moving violation. In Illinois, a driver who receives three moving violations in a 12 month period is subject to having their driver’s license suspended. The driver of any vehicle is prohibited from using a hand-held cellular phone or other electronic communication devices while operating a motor vehicle.  Operating a motor vehicle is not only defined as physically driving, but a driver is also operating a motor vehicle when completely stopped in traffic at a traffic light, for example. In that case, if a driver is even holding an electronic communication or a similar device, the driver could be ticketed under the law. The use of hands-free talking devices is acceptable in most cases (there are exceptions), but to help prevent distractions with novice drivers, those persons 18 years and younger may not use a hands-free device at all.