625 ILCS 5/7-609
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 625 - VEHICLES|625 ILCS 5/ - Illinois Vehicle Code.|Chapter 7 - Illinois Safety And Family Financial Responsibility Law

 (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 7-609)Sec. 7-609.     Exemption for certain religious organizations.     (a) Pursuant  to the following minimum criteria, the Secretary may exempt from the  provisions of Section 7-601 of this Code motor vehicles owned by a  religious organization or its members:(1) The religious organization and its members hold a bona fide conviction that the  acquisition of insurance is contrary to their religious beliefs.(2) The religious organization and its members submit to the Secretary  evidence that historically, over a period of time not less than two years,  they have paid or, by agreement with the other party or parties involved,  are paying in a timely manner for all damages for which they were or are liable.(3) The religious organization has filed with the Secretary a current,  irrevocable letter of credit, valid for a period of 12 months and issued in  accordance with this Section and Article 5 of the Uniform Commercial Code,  approved July 31, 1961, as amended, by a financial institution chartered by  an agency of State or federal government.  The Secretary of State by rule  and regulation shall establish the minimum amount of credit required.(4) The religious organization and its members meet other requirement  which the Secretary by rule and regulation may prescribe.(b) Upon accepting a letter of credit from a religious organization, the  Secretary shall issue a certificate of exemption for each motor vehicle  covered. The certificate of exemption shall serve as evidence of insurance  in accordance with Section 7-602 of this Code.Not less than 30 days before a current letter of credit expires, or by  agreement between the issuer and customer is revoked, the religious  organization shall file with the Secretary a new letter of credit. If a new  letter of credit is not on file with the Secretary at the time the current  letter of credit expires or is revoked, the exemption of the religious  organization and its members shall expire and their certificates of  exemption shall become invalid.(c) If credit is used to the extent that the remaining amount of credit  does not meet the minimum requirements of this Section, and the issuer  declines to reinstate the used portion of the credit or issue a new letter  of credit, the issuer immediately shall send written notice to the customer  and the Secretary that the current letter of credit on file with the  Secretary no longer meets the minimum requirements of the law.If, within 30 days of receiving the notice, the Secretary has not  received and accepted a new letter of credit from the customer, the  exemption of that religious organization and its members shall expire and  their certificates of exemption shall become invalid.(d) Upon the request of the plaintiff, if a person, known by the court  to be covered by a current letter of credit issued pursuant to this  Section fails to pay a judgment for damages within 30 days after the  judgment has become final, the clerk of the court within 10 days shall  forward to the Secretary a report of the person's failure to pay. The  report shall indicate that the person is covered by a letter of credit and,  if known by the court, the names of the issuer and the customer.Upon receiving the report from the court, the Secretary shall notify the  religious organization that, unless the payment is made, 30 days after the  date of the mailing of the notice the exemption of the religious  organization and its members shall be terminated and their certificates of  exemption shall become invalid. If within the 30 days the religious  organization does not submit evidence that the payment has been made, or  furnish valid reasons why the payment has been delayed or not made, the  Secretary shall terminate the exemptions.(e) The Secretary is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations  necessary for the administration of the provisions of this Section.    (Source: P.A. 86-149.)