To help police departments pay for equipment, traffic tickets issued in the State of Illinois will be $5 more.
The law, signed by Governor Bruce Rauner, will help fund body cameras for police officers, according to a report by Chicago Tribune. Rauner signed the bill into law Wednesday, August 12, 2015.
Along with setting standards for how body cameras are used, the law expands officer training, bans the use of chokeholds, and explains how departments are to handle any officer-involved shootings or deaths that may occur. In addition, officers who had been fired or resigned because of misconduct would become part of a database that holds that information.
Though the law does set rules for departments using body cameras, departments are not required to use them. For those that do, officers are required to keep their cameras on when they are on the job.
"Cameras must be turned on at all times when the officer is in uniform and is responding to calls for service or engaged in any law enforcement-related encounter or activity that occurs while the officer is on duty," the law says.
There are times when the cameras may be turned off, such as when an officer is handling confidential matters or if a witness requests that it be turned off.
The $5 fee does not include tickets for parking, registration, or pedestrian offenses.
The law takes effect January 1, 2016.