Common sense guides area officers in cell phone law enforcement
The best answer on how officers will decide to cite you under the new Illinois driving while texting ban is don't make them have to decide. "It is a primary enforcement law and I agree with your sentiment about it being difficult to enforce. However, as with all laws, the Illinois State Police will enforce it in a fair and unbiased manner," said Christopher Watson of the ISP. "We hope compliance with this law comes as a grass roots choice from behind each and every person's steering wheel," he said. "Voluntary compliance is the ultimate goal. Because at the end of the day, the choices we make behind the wheel have real impacts on real people's lives." Officer Watson adds, "Personally, I hope people comply not out of fear of being cited, but because it's the right and safer thing to do. And while this particular law addresses one large portion of the big picture, distracted driving has many other facets," he said. The ISP encourages people to put down their distractions; all of them, obey the posted speed limit, do not drive impaired, and wear their seat belts. Those Fatal Four violations, after all, account for an overwhelming majority of contributory causes to the crashes in Illinois. Perry County Sheriff Keith Kellerman said Tuesday there is no hard and fast protocol on enforcing this law. He will rely on the judgement and vigilance of each officer to fairly dispense citations for violating the new law that became effective January 1. He suggests drivers pull off the roadway and stop to use a cell phone.
Du Quoin Chief of Police Jamie Ellermeyer agreed with these comments and added that one of his real concerns in with young people and texting as they pull in and out of parking lots around the city's schools. "The main thing is that the law is out," he said, asking motorists to obey it and to contact dealerships and after market installers about how to equip cars with hands -free technology that will provide a reasonable level of hands-free communication while keeping your hands on the wheel.
New cars are largely equipped with the technology. "I was listening to the news the other night and one place in Belleville was able to install hands-free equipment for maybe $200,"he said. He said he is relying on both drivers and officers to do the right thing.
What the law says and does
It's now illegal for drivers to talk while holding a cell phone while driving. As of Wednesday, if you're going to talk on the phone while driving, you've got to use a hands-free device, or have it on speaker, out of your hands. You may want to check with your car dealership on how to achieve hands-free use of your device.
State police say they're going to start enforcing the new law immediately - no grace period - though officers do have discretionary power. And the law does have exceptions. Phone to driver's ear is allowable, for instance, in an emergency. And there are other caveats.
The temptation and for many the habit is that you pull up to a lighted intersection, the light goes red and you make or take a call, or check your emails. You can legally do that, but only if you put the car in neutral or park. Still, what all of us frequently see and many of us regularly do is now a fineable no-no.
The first offense is $75 and it increases $25 after that. You get stopped three times in one year, you're going to lose your license.
That may be the goal, but the reality is, changing habits and some would argue necessary convenience, takes time, and enforcement. Texting while driving has been against the law in Illinois for the last four years, but it's not always easy for police to catch and prove. In part, because a motorist could claim that they were using the phone to punch up a number and just talk - not text. That claim, under the new law, no longer works.