SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Senator Bill Cunningham is reminding his constituents that with the New Year holiday comes a host of new laws for Illinois residents. Laws affecting everything from social media privacy, to tanning bed regulation, to cell phone usage while driving will take effect on January 1st. A few of the most notable changes are listed below.
- Talking on a cell phone while driving is now banned, unless it is completely hands free. Blue Tooth headsets and speakerphone are still allowed as long as they can be activated by a voice-command or single-button touch.
- Use of commercial tanning beds is banned for children under the age of 18. Countless studies link tanning to an increased risk of skin cancer, especially at a younger age.
- 17 year olds that will turn 18 before the day of the general election can now vote in primary elections.
- New pet owners that purchase sick cats and dogs can be reimbursed for the cost of veterinary visits for up to 21 days after the purchase. They also have the option to exchange the pet for a refund.
- Those caught littering in Illinois will now face a $50 fine. Cigarette butts are included as litter.
- Schools are banned from checking students’ Facebook pages without permission.
- The state speed limit increases from 65 mph to 70 mph. Counties near Chicago and St. Louis have the ability to opt out.
- Fines for speeding in construction zones while workers are not present were lowered. Additionally, fines were increased for speeding in construction zones if workers are present.
- To help protect schoolchildren, cameras will be placed on school buses to watch for drivers that pass stopped buses.
- If a divorced couple has joint custody of children, one parent must ask the other if he or she would like to take care of the children before hiring someone else.
- Instead of being forced to throw extra wine away at a restaurant or winery, they can now cork an unfinished bottle to send home with you. The wine must be re-corked and placed in a tamper-evident bag.
- The Illinois Tollway will begin posting names of people with the highest outstanding tolls on its website to help crack down on people skipping tolls.
