New Year, New Laws
Every January, the Secretary of State alerts motorists to new laws. Last year, it became against the law to drive in the left lane of an interstate highway or full access-controlled freeway except when passing another vehicle. I don't know of anyone who's received a ticket from a violation of this law, but I still remember riding with my aunt in the left lane for miles on a California freeway because it was "safer" that way. I'm sure preventing that type situation was the intention of the new law.
January 1, 2005, brought some very interesting and useful new laws. Anyone who attempts to bribe a driving examiner will lose driving privileges for 120 days and may be charged with a Class 2 felony. Signs will be posted in Driver Services Facilities throughout the state alerting customers to the penalties of a bribe attempt. I had no idea this was happening or that it could even work. I'm thinking back to my original behind-the-wheel driving exam, which I flunked.
Motorists are now required to provide insurance information on their vehicle registration renewal applications. The new law calls for the Secretary of State's office to collect the name of the vehicle's insurer, the insurance policy number, and the expiration date of the insurance. Previously, there was just a question asking if the applicant had liability insurance, with no requirement to provide the proof.
Another new law will allow issuance of Temporary Visitors Drivers Licenses to foreign citizens who are living in Illinois legally but are ineligible for a Social Security Number. Illinois requires an SSN to obtain a driver's license and some people residing legally in the state have been unable to apply for drivers' licenses. Check with the Secretary of State's office for more information on how and where they can be obtained.
This next law has to do with something I'm ashamed to say I experienced as a teenager: hill jumping. What can I say? Back then, thrills were a little more difficult to come by. The act of knowingly using an incline in a roadway-such as a railroad crossing, bridge approach, or hill-to cause a vehicle to become airborne constitutes reckless driving. A reckless driving ticket is a major violation, and if a death is caused, it becomes reckless homicide.
For information about these laws, visit www.sos.state. il.us and click on the notice at the bottom of the Web site. TPW
January 1, 2005, brought some very interesting and useful new laws. Anyone who attempts to bribe a driving examiner will lose driving privileges for 120 days and may be charged with a Class 2 felony. Signs will be posted in Driver Services Facilities throughout the state alerting customers to the penalties of a bribe attempt. I had no idea this was happening or that it could even work. I'm thinking back to my original behind-the-wheel driving exam, which I flunked.
Motorists are now required to provide insurance information on their vehicle registration renewal applications. The new law calls for the Secretary of State's office to collect the name of the vehicle's insurer, the insurance policy number, and the expiration date of the insurance. Previously, there was just a question asking if the applicant had liability insurance, with no requirement to provide the proof.
Another new law will allow issuance of Temporary Visitors Drivers Licenses to foreign citizens who are living in Illinois legally but are ineligible for a Social Security Number. Illinois requires an SSN to obtain a driver's license and some people residing legally in the state have been unable to apply for drivers' licenses. Check with the Secretary of State's office for more information on how and where they can be obtained.
This next law has to do with something I'm ashamed to say I experienced as a teenager: hill jumping. What can I say? Back then, thrills were a little more difficult to come by. The act of knowingly using an incline in a roadway-such as a railroad crossing, bridge approach, or hill-to cause a vehicle to become airborne constitutes reckless driving. A reckless driving ticket is a major violation, and if a death is caused, it becomes reckless homicide.
For information about these laws, visit www.sos.state. il.us and click on the notice at the bottom of the Web site. TPW