More About Dennis Jurs and the "Dennis Law"

Dennis E. Jurs served in the United States Army and was deployed in Vietnam. While serving in Vietnam, Mr. Jurs suffered injuries to both legs when a land mine exploded. At the age of 30, he started cycling to rehabilitate his injured legs. Mr. Jurs was very dedicated and active in the Illinois cycling community. Mr. Jurs was a member of  Illinois-based race team, Team MACK, and organized the Four Bridges Bicycle Race in Elgin, Illinois for many years.

May 18, 2015, a motorist failed to yield to the right-of-way to an oncoming bicyclist, which resulted in the death of Dennis E. Jurs. This traffic citation was dismissed based off of the ruling that the right-of-way laws in the Illinois Vehicle Code do not apply to cyclists. Mr. Jurs’ family brought this matter to the attention of State Representative Anna Moeller, who sponsored “Dennis Law.” Friday, August 12, 2016, “Dennis Law” was signed into law with only one vote against it. The law clarified that bicycles are “vehicles” as defined in the Illinois Vehicle Code and that motorists must provide the right-of-way to cyclists when entitled.

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