Here are just a few of the new laws in Illinois for 2013:
Allowing law enforcement officers to use wiretaps or other eavesdropping measures during a felony drug investigation if approved by a state’s attorney instead of a judge.- Basic license plate fees will increase $2, to $101 annually
- Strip club “pole tax” - $3 surcharge per customer, or clubs pay an annual fee of $5,000 to $25,000, based on sales.
- Circuit Clerks must report to the Illinois State Police, which issues Firearm Owners Identification cards, anytime a local court determines that a person has a “mental disability” that might make him or her unsuitable for gun ownership.
- Prohibiting employers from demanding that job applicants disclose passwords to social media accounts, such as Facebook.
- Additional $15 fee for State Police Merit Board from traffic tickets
- Prohibiting the possession, sale, or distribution of shark fins.
- Tougher penalties for child-sex crimes, including barring convicted sex offenders from participating in holiday events that involve children, such as giving candy to trick-or-treaters and dressing up as Santa Claus.
- A package of laws directed at preventing elder abuse. One provides law enforcement agencies, fire departments and other first responders with greater access to abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation records so they have better information about a senior’s needs when answering a call. Police training will also include a course in recognizing elder abuse, neglect, and other crimes. Another law allows a judge to freeze the assets of someone charged with financial exploitation of a senior or a person with a disability in case restitution is ordered.
- Barring the use of taxpayer or tuition dollars to conduct a college hiring search except for a university president or in a case where the president and trustees can show a need.
- Employers must report school bus drivers who have test positive for alcohol or drug use.
- Allows Culinary Students the ability to have alcohol on the job
- Fine or $2500 for Use of Disability Placard of Deceased Individual
- Additional Penalties for the Victims Assistance Fund - (1) $100 for a felony; (2) $50 for an offense under the Illinois Vehicle Code, excluding speeding offenses and certain equipment offenses and certain other violations; and (3) $75 for a misdemeanor, excluding conservation offenses.
- Cities of over 1,000,000 inhabitants, a governmental agency may establish automated speed enforcement (ASE) systems in designated safety zones.
- Non-religious universities must now allow students to reschedule an exam or class if there is a religious reason, unless there is “unnecessary hardship” created.
- Ambulances are no longer required to pay tolls.
- Drivers of commercial vehicles may no longer text or use a handheld phone while driving.
- Inline skaters may now travel in traffic, as long as they meet certain conditions.
- Child sex offenders are prohibited from participating in holiday events, like handing out candy on Halloween or dressing as Santa, “unless under specific circumstances.”
- Creates a formal process for senior “free ride” cards for public transportation to be revoked or voided upon the person’s death.
- The City of Chicago must provide all licensed plumbers with hard plastic photo ID cards.
- Landlords can now email itemized bills to tenants for damages to the rental property.
- It’s now a crime to use a dead persons handicapped parking sign or license plate.
- Law enforcement officials can now order boat owners to remove plant or animal life from their boats, to prevent the spread of invasive species.
- Provides that no person may use a wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle within 500 feet of an emergency scene (a location where an authorized emergency vehicle as defined by the Code is present and has activated its oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights) except for specified purposes. Adds digital photographs and video to the definition of “electronic message” in provisions prohibiting the use of electronic communication devices while operating a motor vehicle. Exempts wireless telephones and electronic communication devices used in voice-operated (instead of “voice-activated”) mode
- Provides that moneys in the State Police DUI Fund shall be used to purchase law enforcement equipment that will assist in the prevention of alcohol related criminal violence throughout the State (instead of for enforcement and prevention of driving while under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds or any combination thereof, including but not limited to the purchase of law enforcement equipment and commodities that will assist in the prevention of alcohol related criminal violence throughout the State; police officer training and education in areas related to alcohol related crime, including but not limited to DUI training; and police officer salaries, including but not limited to salaries for hire back funding for safety checkpoints, saturation patrols, and liquor store sting operations).
- Allowance of Residence for Underage Drinking - Makes it a misdemeanor carrying a $500 fine for any adult to knowingly permit minors under the age of 21 to drink alcohol on their property or in their home. If the violation results in bodily harm or death, the adult will be charged with a felony.
- Adds licensed physician assistant, and licensed advanced practice nurse to the list of persons authorized to draw blood for drug alcohol testing.
- Provides that if a law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe a person involved in a motor vehicle accident causing personal injury or death was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the law enforcement officer shall request a chemical test.
- Provides that a motor vehicle used in violation of the Section concerning driving on a suspended or revoked license is subject to seizure and forfeiture if the person’s driving privileges were revoked or suspended as a result of a similar provision of a law of another state relating to: (1) operating or being in physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, any other drug or any combination thereof, (2) leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident involving personal injury or death; (3) failure to submit to drug or alcohol testing; or (4) reckless homicide.
- Provides that the driver of a motorcycle may proceed through a red light which fails to change to a green light “within a reasonable period of time not less than 120 seconds” (instead of “within a reasonable period of time”).
The above were compiled from the following sources:
About Lennie Jarratt
