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Another new year, a whole bunch of new laws

BY MIKE RIOPELL
THE SOUTHERN SPRINGFIELD BUREAU

SPRINGFIELD - The new year will mean drivers can do less communicating behind the wheel, and they'll have to pay more to drive, too.

Though 2009 was dominated by a state budget that began and ended the year in shambles and nonstop talk of ethics reform in government, lawmakers had time to approve hundreds of other new laws.

Lots of them take effect at the stroke of midnight Jan. 1. Some law changes will hit drivers and others directly, but others are more obscure.

Lawmakers' high-profile push to keep people from texting while driving was approved this year and takes hold in 2010. Someone texting behind the wheel can be pulled over and ticketed for the offense.

Though Illinois' law kicks in soon, states across the country are talking about making the same law as concerns about the safety of distracted drivers grow.

In addition to not texting, drivers can be ticketed for talking on the phone without a hands-free device in a school or construction zone starting Jan. 1.

A separate law increases the fine of speeding in a school zone by $5 and sends the extra money to help schools. The fine for not yielding to a pedestrian in a school zone goes up $50.

State Rep. Roger Eddy, a Hutsonville Republican and school superintendent there, said the new measures could help remind people to drive safely when children are around.

"I think people get used to where they drive to the point where they're not aware," Eddy said.

Semi trucks can go 65 mph on rural interstates Jan. 1 because of a change in law.

It'll take some time for the state to take down the signs that now hold truckers to 55 mph legally.

Some lawmakers had pushed for the change for years, and it was vetoed three times by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

State Rep. Bob Filder, D-Mount Zion, suggested that the roads are safer if everyone's going the same speed.

"I think the difference was that Rod Blagojevich was out of the way," Flider said about the plan's success this year.

As part of the state's big plans to build more roads and bridges, the cost of registering a car goes up $20 in 2010.

Now, a new license plate sticker will cost $99 instead of $79. People have already gotten their January renewal bills for the higher cost.

And the cost of hunting and fishing will go up to in an effort to help the state's outdoors programs.

On Jan. 1, the cost of a fishing license goes from $12.50 to $14.50. A deer permit goes from $15 to $25 and hunting licenses rise from $7 to $12.

Among the new laws taking effect that won't cost people anything is one from state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, to name Feb. 5 Adlai Stevenson Day in Illinois.

Adlai Stevenson II was governor of Illinois in the early 1950s, ran for president and served as a United Nations Ambassador.

The day honoring the Bloomington native won't get people off of work, but official state calendars will note the day. The official day was the idea of students at a local school.

Starting next year, all American flags flying on public property, such as outside government buildings, will have to be made in America.

State Rep. Mike Boland, D-East Moline, said he thought of the plan after hearing about flags made in China draping the caskets of fallen soldiers.

"That kind of appalled me," Boland said.

Also, a company in Rock Island, Regalia Manufacturing Co., makes American flags.