Fore-warned is fore-armed–new laws to watch out for; you can thank our friends in Springfield.
The world wasn’t safe while the legislature was in session. Our “liberal” Democratic House, Senate and Governor drop lots more regulations on us. Though 2009 was dominated by a state budget crisis that continues to have multi-billion dollar deficits, and they have not really addressed ethics reform in government, lawmakers approved hundreds of other new laws for Illinois’ citizens to adapt to. Most of them take effect at the midnight on Thursday when the New Year starts. Some legislative changes will hit drivers and others directly, but others are more obscure.
Lawmakers’ bent on keeping people from texting while driving enacted a law this year and it takes hold Thursday at midnight. Drivers caught emailing, “tweeting” or texting behind the wheel can be pulled over and ticketed for the offense. Please assume if an Illinois police officer now wants to stop anyone, they will be able to claim they thought you were texting or emailing.
“Bluetooth” or hands-free devices may be much more popular in Illinois. In addition to not texting, drivers can now be ticketed for talking on the phone without a hands-free device in a school or construction zone starting Jan. 1. The best way to avoid this is to find a way to talk without putting the phone to your ear.
A separate law increases the fine of speeding in a school zone by $5 and sends the extra money to help schools. The fine for not yielding to a pedestrian in a school zone goes up $50.
Trucking companies traveling in or through Illinois will be happy to hear semi-tractor-trailer trucks will now be able to go 65 mph on rural interstates Jan. 1 because of a change in law. However, it will take time for the state to take down the signs that continue to hold truckers to 55 mph.
As part of the state’s plans to help out Illinois’ road builders and the struggling construction industry and build more roads and bridges, the cost of registering a car goes up $20 in 2010. Therefore, a new license plate sticker will cost $99 instead of $79. We have already gotten January renewal bills with the higher cost.
For you outdoorsy types, the cost of hunting and fishing will go up to in an effort to help the state’s cash-strapped outdoors programs. On Jan. 1, the cost of a fishing license goes from $12.50 to $14.50. A deer permit goes from $15 to $25 and hunting license fees rise from $7 to $12.
New laws that we didn’t truly need include naming Feb. 5 Adlai Stevenson Day in Illinois. Adlai Stevenson was Governor of Illinois in the 1950s, unsuccessfully ran for President against Ike and later served as a United Nations Ambassador. The day honoring him won’t get people off of work but official state calendars will note the day.
And last but not least, starting on Friday morning, American flags flying on public property in Illinois, such as outside government buildings, will have to be made in America. No more “Made in China” U.S. flags. A company in Rock Island, Regalia Manufacturing Co. makes American flags. You can buy an unlimited number of Illinois-made U.S. flags, banners or other “regalia” by contacting them online at http://regaliamfg.com/. U.S. flags don’t have to be replaced immediately but after the old ones wear out, new ones have to be made in the U.S.
Now, let’s hope they can make sense of that budget thing. Please send your thoughts and comments.
