By Nick Gale, WLS-AM 890 News
(ELGIN, Ill.) — A new law does away with a warning for first time offenders who text and instead increases the penalty.
House Bill 4846 was signed into law Tuesday, taking immediate effect and making the first time a person uses a cell phone while driving a moving offense. Previously, the first offense was classified as a warning.
“This new measure will help save lives,” said bill sponsor State Sen. Cristina Castro (D-Elgin). said. “Sending one quick text while driving is dangerous. We have to work together to get the message across that texting and driving is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving.”
In 2013, the General Assembly passed a bill to prohibit all uses of cellular phones while driving. House Bill 4846 strengthens this law to create stricter guidelines.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at least 25 percent of police-reported incidents involve some form of distracted driving. According to AT&T, nearly 9 in 10 people engage in smartphone activities while driving.
The Illinois Secretary of State and State Police supported the measure.
@ 2018 WLS-AM News
