NEW YEAR/NEW LAWS IN ILLINOIS - LET'S REVIEW THE CHANGES FOR 2008!
NO SMOKING, TAXED BOTTLED WATER, MORE STRINGENT TEEN DRIVING HEAD THE LIST
Here's a summary of New Laws in Illinois, effective January 1, 2008. See Pat Butler's article in January 2nd edition of The Lakeview Booster for more information.
1. "Smoke Free Illinois" now bans smoking in all restaurants, bars, arenas and stadiums, casinos, workplaces, most hotel and nursing home rooms, and public vehicles throughout Illinois and across Chicago. Fines for non compliance range from $100 to $250 for individuals, and $2,500 for repeated violations by businesses.
2. On New Year's Day, Chicago became the first big city in the country to tax bottled water. The new tax - 5 cents per bottle, 30 cents for a six-pack, $1.50 for a case - is presently being challenged in court by Illinois retailers as unfair - flavored waters, sports drinks, and carbonated soft drinks are not covered by the new tax.
3. Under IL House Bill 369, retail gift cards and gift certificates can no longer expire or have their value reduced, so long as the cards are used within five years of purchase. Previously, expiration and value reduction were at the discretion of the merchant.
4. Three new laws initiated by IL Secretary of State Jessie White increases the Learner's Permit phase for Drivers Under 18 Years Old to nine months, from the current three months. The bill includes a tougher night-driving curfew, and puts the cars of young people who speed at risk, as well as their drivers licenses. The law also strengthens penalties for seatbelt violations for new drivers, and bans those drivers younger than 18 from having more than one passenger under the age of 20 with them in the car - except for brothers and sisters - during their first year of driving. Finally, parents of teenagers under 18 can now access their child's driving record on the internet, at CyberDriveIllinois.com.
5. The Illinois Department of Aging is now required to respond to complaints of Elder Abuse 24/7,
In total, over 100 new laws took effect with the New Year here in Illinois and throughout Chicago.
DEAN MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
