HR0208 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois General Assembly passed Public Act 98-506 to ensure that anyone driving a car is careful, responsive, and alert behind the wheel; and

WHEREAS, Illinois joined a dozen other states with similar restrictions and will allow drivers to operate under a uniform ban; and

WHEREAS, Public Act 98-506 provided that Illinois drivers may not operate a motor vehicle on a roadway while using an electronic communication device; and

WHEREAS, A person who violates Public Act 98-508 will be fined a maximum of $75 for a first offense, $100 for a second offense, $125 for a third offense, and $150 for a fourth or subsequent offense; and

WHEREAS, A first offense for driving while using an electronic communication device will not be considered a moving violation; subsequent offences will be considered moving violations and will be recorded on one's driving record; and

WHEREAS, The new handheld cell phone ban is a primary stop offense, which means that a driver can be stopped without committing any other violation; and

WHEREAS, Public Act 98-506 was an initiative based on the National Transportation Safety Board's recommendation for a nationwide ban on the use of cell phones while driving; and

WHEREAS, Other states that have implemented the bans have done research, noting that there may be little difference between drivers who use hand-held cell phones and who use hands-free devices; and

WHEREAS, It is important for the Illinois General Assembly to evaluate the impact of legislation to insure the safety of all Illinois drivers; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Transportation to study the impact of Public Act 98-506 and to deliver a report to the members of the Illinois House of Representatives by January 1, 2016; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the Secretary of State Police and the Secretary of Transportation.