Illinois House honors the memory of Whiteside County teen DJ Dorathy
State Representative Ryan Spain delivered an impassioned speech before the Illinois House of Representatives on Wednesday, April 15, honoring the life of Whiteside County teen DJ Dorathy before passing legislation proposed by his family to improve safety for young drivers in Illinois.
“We have to do everything we can to work with our young people to let them know we care about their safety and want to protect their lives,” said Representative Spain.
House Bill 4382 provides for a six-month suspension of driving privileges for young drivers convicted in violation of unrelated passenger restrictions who have been involved in an accident involving disability or death.
DJ Dorathy, a well-liked Prophetstown High School student athlete, was tragically killed along with two other young students in a vehicle crash on March 28, 2024. The surviving driver of the vehicle in which DJ was killed was found in violation of the unrelated passenger restrictions on their graduated driver’s license for drivers of this age, and subsequently received a two-month suspension of their driving privileges. DJ’s mother, Chasity, has strived to turn their families’ grief into action to improve driving safety for young people across Illinois. On Wednesday, Spain passed House Bill 4382 (DJ’s Law) unanimously with the Dorathy Family looking on from the Speaker’s Gallery above the House Floor.
“Young drivers must recognize there are serious consequences if they are involved in an accident involving a tragedy like what happened to DJ,” said Spain, before paying tribute to Chasity Dorathy, of Tampico, for her efforts to bring awareness to young driver safety.
HB 4382 will now go to the Illinois State Senate for consideration in that chamber before being sent to the Governor.