Buckle Up, Back There! It's the Law
In a flurry of bill signing, Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn signed legislation for two new Illinois safe driving laws. The first law requires that as of January 1, 2012, all passengers in a vehicle wear seat belts, no matter where they are seated. This is a primary law, meaning that police officers can stop your vehicle if they believe that not all passengers are buckled up. Fines start at $25. Illinois is the 15th state to require the use of seatbelts in backseats. There are exemptions for passengers in taxis and emergency vehicles, such as police cars and ambulances.
In another law signed in Summer 2011, it is illegal for passengers to ride in trailers, wagons and other vehicles while they are being towed on highways, with the exemption of farm-related activities and parades.
Other New Illinois Driving Laws Going into Effect
>> Beginning Jan. 3, 2012, drivers of commercial vehicles will no longer be allowed to use handheld cell phones in Illinois. Drivers won't be able to bypass this rule by using their speaker phones. The law outlaws all mobile handheld cell phone usage completely.
If you do use a cell phone in your vehicle, it is best to take advantage of hands-free technology no matter where you are driving. Many suburbs, as well as the City of Chicago, have bans on handheld cell phones. Also, remember that as of Jan. 1, 2011, texting while driving in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan is illegal, as well as using a handheld cell phone while in a school or construction zone. If you traveling and not sure of the cell phone laws that apply along your route, check out the Governors Highway Safety Association's quick-reference cell phone law chart. But remember, hands-free use is always the second smartest and safest way to use a cell phone while driving. The safest and smartest way? There isn't one. Pull over to make a call.
Also effective in 2012, school bus companies that suspect a driver may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs are allowed to require the driver to submit to alcohol and drug testing. Any driver who refuses or fails the test can have his or her school bus permit suspended for three years.
Motorcyclists in Illinois will be able to ride through a red light that doesn't turn green because it fails to detect the driver. The motorcyclist may ride through after stopping and waiting a "reasonable" amount of time to check traffic.
A new Uninsured Driving law requires mandatory maximum fines for a person who has multiple convictions of driving an uninsured motor vehicle. A $2,500 fine be will be imposed, and possible jail time, for an individual convicted of driving an uninsured vehicle that results in bodily harm to another person, if the defendant has two or more convictions for driving an uninsured vehicle. The law also requires the same $2500 fine for a person who receives a third conviction of uninsured operation of a motor vehicle that leads to bodily injury to another. The law also sets a fine at $1,000 for anyone convicted of a third or subsequent violation of uninsured operation of a vehicle that does not result in bodily injury.
