Illinois Texting and Internet Surfing Ban

[Ryan Wichman]

I know there have been a lot of threads of texting or cell phones being banned across various states in recent years, but I felt that this new law in Illinois deserved its own thread.

Here is a link to the article by the Chicago Sun-Times:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/1961575,new-traffic-laws-122809.article

Another link, this is a press release:
http://www.dot.state.il.us/press/Distracted Driving Press Release.doc

Starting Janurary 1st, it will be illegal for the driver of a vehicle in Illinois to "compose, send or read tet messages, instant messages and email on a cell phone or surf the internet while driving,â€￾. I know there are many times when chasers are caught chasing by themselves and doing 1,000 things at once...but in Illinois it looks like they are really going to be more aggressive about stopping drivers from using cell phones or laptops.

Best plan would to bring along a partner who can do the viewing while you are driving or you will have to make a lot of stops to look at data. Just something to keep in mind if you plan on chasing in Illinois in the future.

 

[swilson]

That sucks cuz im not too far from IL!

 

[Joey Ketcham]

That sucks cuz im not too far from IL!

Why does it suck? You shouldn't be texting or using a computer while driving anyways, that's stupid and very dangerous. Friends of mine have gone off into ditches because they were busy texting. Laws like this needs to be in effect for all 50 states.

 

[rdale]

I wouldn't get too worked up about the law... As the sheriff says in the article -- if you aren't weaving between lanes while surfing, you won't be bothered:

===
Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez said he didn't foresee a problem with enforcement because the vast majority of drivers caught probably would already have been committing some sort of initial moving violation that led an officer to take notice.


"With something like texting while you're driving, I believe there's a certain amount of poor driver behavior that's going to be exhibited that will probably draw your attention," Perez said. "It will make an officer get up close and see why this person is weaving."
===

It's not like people are going to stop looking at GR3 when they cross the state line. It's a feel-good law, something that might tack an extra charge on if you cause a crash. It won't affect 99% of the people texting and surfing now.

 

[Jason Foster]

I take it that is will be considered a primary and not a secondary offense.

If it goes into affect, I would count of officers enforcing it beyond was this 'one' sheriff says, especially in non-urban areas (where suburbanites are more likely to complain about the issue).

Frankly I have no real big issue with it. As long as I can still have nav and radar up that's fine. Otherwise it takes only a few seconds to pull over and take a look at the computer before driving again.

I'm pretty sure MN and a few other states have this in affect.

 

[Dustin Wilcox]

It won't affect 99% of the people texting and surfing now.

Even if you're "Busted" for texting or surfing, simply say you were making a call, checking your battery, or one of the million other excuses. This will be about as effective as the "click it or ticket" check points. They advertise the check point a mile ahead of time; you have to be extremely stupid or stubborn enough to pay $100 for it to be effective. Another joke of a law that will have absolutely zero impact on making the road safer...

 

[rdale]

Seat belt laws have been primary for ages in most states, but VERY few police officers driving around pull people over for it. They do "sting" operations every once in a while, but in general I don't see this being a big deal.

They'd have to be looking in your car and see you looking at your laptop - and I don't know about you, but my laptop isn't in a position where anyone outside at the same or lower level than me would ever see. Plus it specifically says 'surfing the Internet' and watching GRLevel3 or reading warnings on RealEMWIN would not be the same...

 

[Ryan Wichman]

This will be last time I post something trying to save people a ticket during the chase season

 

[Ryan Wichman]

When I first posted this, I had envisioned a chaser being pulled over for speeding while riding solo with a laptop on a mount sitting next to them. It would be awfully hard to talk your way out of that one.

 

[Dustin Wilcox]

It would be awfully hard to talk your way out of that one.

Unless the law states it's illegal to have a laptop sitting in the car, I really don't see what you'd have to talk yourself out of; other than the speeding ticket of course...

 

[Ryan Wichman]

Unless the law states it's illegal to have a laptop sitting in the car, I really don't see what you'd have to talk yourself out of; other than the speeding ticket of course...

If you are driving down the highway surfing the internet or GR3 and pass a cop sitting on the side of the road running radar on you. It wouldn't be that hard to see you with your screen open and you looking at it.
Not that far fetched of a scenario and it wouldn't take much for the cop to say you looking at your laptop is bad enough, doesn't matter if you were surfing the web or not.

 

[rdale]

I checked the actual text of the law and it specifically says that you have to be surfing or sending/receiving instant messages.

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/HB/09600HB0071.htm

===
"Electronic message" includes, but is not limited to electronic mail, a text message, an instant message, or a command or request to access an Internet site.

(b) A person may not operate a motor vehicle on a roadway while using an electronic communication device to compose, send, or read an electronic message.
===

Looking at GR3 doesn't fit any of those options.

 

[Dustin Wilcox]

Not that far fetched of a scenario and it wouldn't take much for the cop to say you looking at your laptop is bad enough, doesn't matter if you were surfing the web or not.

I'd say it's WAY more farfetched to think this scenario will play out, let alone hold up in court. Absolutely no way they'll allocate the resources required to prove that I was using the internet, let alone the computer for that matter...

It's an intriguing step by the state to pass this law, though I really don't see it being a factor in altering the behaviors of chasers, or anyone else for that matter.

 

[swilson]

Why does it suck? You shouldn't be texting or using a computer while driving anyways, that's stupid and very dangerous. Friends of mine have gone off into ditches because they were busy texting. Laws like this needs to be in effect for all 50 states.

I was thinking more from the point of chasing. I don't surf/text when I drive.

And even with someone keeping track with the radar in the passenger seat it doesn't take away from the fact that I'm a visual person, so it sucks.

 

[rdale]

I'd say it's WAY more farfetched to think this scenario will play out, let alone hold up in court. Absolutely no way they'll allocate the resources required to prove that I was using the internet, let alone the computer for that matter...

I like the part where the police say they'll get records from the phone company to prove people were/were not texting at the time of the crash.

If I get a text message at 4:40pm, and get in an accident at 4:40pm, does that mean I was reading it when the accident happened? What if I didn't press the "read" button yet?

Is the first thing you do when seeing an accident is record the exact time to the second, so that you can compare to text message timestamps afterwards? If I'm typing a message and get in a wreck, but don't hit send, how would they know?

As I mentioned - it's a feel good law. They'll set up a sting operation once or twice a year, get a few thousand dollars and some press, and everyone will be happy. But I'll still text and drive.