New and Updated
Illinois Laws for 2010
January 1st is the
traditional effective date for new laws or changes to current laws that our
state legislature has approved. This New
Year’s Day was no exception. Some
significant new or updated laws for 2010 include:
Emergency
Contact Information Database
Illinois Driver’s License or Photo ID
holders can now enter their emergency contact information into a confidential
Secretary of State database. If you or a
loved one are ever injured in an accident and cannot communicate with rescue or
medical workers, police officers can access the database and obtain contact
information for whomever you list there.
While your driver’s license would have
your home address, sending an officer there takes valuable time and resources. Often times, no one is home when officers
arrive to give that vital information.
Quick access to this database information allows police to directly
phone your contacts and let them know where they need to respond. The system works great for parents, friends
or family that may live alone.
From time to time police encounter
drivers or pedestrians who are lost or disoriented. If they have emergency contact information
registered with their driver’s license or photo ID card, it provides police an
easy way to contact family or loved ones to obtain help.
The information is confidential and
you can change it at any time. Please
visit www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/ecd/home.html for
questions or to register your emergency contact information.
Texting
while Driving
It is now illegal to drive while
writing, sending or reading an electronic message on a cell phone, PDA or other
electronic communication device. (625
ILCS 5/12-610.2)
Using
a Cell Phone in a School or Construction Zone
It is now illegal to use a cell phone,
unless using it hands-free, in a school zone or construction zone. (625 ILCS
5/12-610.1)
Uninsured
Motor Vehicle
You will now be arrested, not just
issued a ticket, if you don’t have proof of insurance for the vehicle and are
involved in an accident where another person is injured. (625 ILCS 5/3‑707)
Obstructing
Identification
It is now illegal to provide false
name, address or date of birth information to a police officer if you have been
arrested, detained or believed to be a witness to a criminal offense. (720 ILCS
5/31-4.5)
If you have any questions about these
or other laws, please contact the Barrington Police Department at 847-304-3300.
