Page 34 - The Peorian Vol 3 Issue 1 Winter
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The Present
34
thePeorian.com
While the law banning the use of
hand-held phones and other devices
while driving may have gotten the
most attention, it is not the only new
law that takes effect in Illinois on
Jan.1 that will affect many people.
Another new law that starts that
day also will affect drivers, but it
is one that most will probably like:
the new, higher 70-mph speed limit.
The General Assembly passed
the law, and Gov. Quinn signed it,
despite arguments that the higher
speed limit reduces fuel efficiency
and increases the number of traffic
fatalities.
With the higher limit, Illinois joins
several neighboring states, including
Indiana and Missouri, is allowing
drivers to go 70 mph on four-lane
highways.
Another new law makes it a crime to
flick cigarette butts, lit or otherwise,
from a moving car. In fact, it’s as
tough a stance against littering that
you may find anywhere because if
you get caught three times you are
looking at a felony charge and jail
time.
Using marijuana for medical
purposes will be legal in Illinois
beginning Jan. 1. There are 33
conditions for which a person may
get a prescription from their doctor.
Even then, they have to register with
the state’s Department of Public
Health that they use the substance
for medical reasons.
There are still a myriad of
unanswered questions about that
law, not the least of which is how it
will affect workplace issues.
A new law that will affect fewer
people is one that bans anyone under
the age of 18 from using a tanning
bed.
Teen drivers will face a few new
laws, as well, including one that
stipulates anyone between the ages
of 18 to 21 who did not take a driver’s
education course in high school will
need to complete an adult driving
course before they can get a license.
And finally, yes the concealed carry
law will go into effect. However, it
will likely be at least Jan. 5 before
the state police begin accepting
applications and likely April before
the first permits are issued because
of a backlog.
One part of the concealed carry law
that won’t see a delay is that gun
shop owners, beginning Jan. 1, will
be required to call a state hotline to
make sure a gun buyer has a valid
Firearms Owners Identification Card
before they complete the transaction.
For more information about these and
all new state laws, go to your favorite
search engine on the Internet. There
are a lot of places to find more
information.
OTHER NEW LAWS COMING JAN. 1
