Prairie State Wire

Kendall County State’s Attorney Eric Weis discussed the impacts of a bill proposed by Rep. Justin Slaughter that would amend sections of the state vehicle code and eliminate several offenses from being cause for law enforcement to stop a driver.

“It’s not going to matter anyway because we’re not going to be able to stop people and arrest people down the road, if Rep. Slaughter’s bill starts coming into effect," “Weis said. "Laws won’t mean anything at some point."

"If you want to speed to go into work, you can get to work faster, you won’t have to worry about being stopped by a police officer. I guess that’s the intent," he said. "We’re going to slowly erode the ability to do their job and the court system and get back to.. a purge system or anarchy?”

The bill would disallow law enforcement officers to stop a motor vehicle for violations including “failing to display registration plates or stickers; being operated with an expired registration sticker; violating general speed restrictions (unless that violation is a misdemeanor or felony offense); improper lane usage (unless that violation is a misdemeanor or felony offense); failing to comply with certain requirements concerning vehicle lamps; excessive tint; defective mirrors; an obstructed windshield or defective windshield wipers; defective bumpers; excessive exhaust; and failure of the vehicle operator to wear a safety belt.”

Weis was sworn into his fifth term as State’s Attorney for Kendall County in 2020; he was elected to his first term in 2006. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from North Central College and his law degree from Northern Illinois University. He currently resides in Yorkville.