Pubdate: Sat, 01 Jan 2005
Source: Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale, IL)
Copyright: 2005 Southern Illinoisan
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/1430
Website: http://www.TheSouthern.com/
Author: Andrea Hahn
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

New Year, New Laws:

LEGISLATION AIMED AT METH MANUFACTURING, LICENSES FOR DRIVERS UNDER 21 
HIGHLIGHT CHANGES

The new year offers a whole calendar of new possibilities. It also
offers a whole list of new laws designed to restrict or alter behavior
of Illinois residents.

Beginning today, dozens of new laws come into effect in Illinois,
applying to business, education, agriculture, criminal investigation,
driving and more.

The implementation of some of the new laws will not even be noticed by
the average Southern Illinois resident. One that might, however, is
aimed at over-the-counter cold medicines containing ephedrine or
pseudo-ephedrine, such as Sudafed. Ephedrine and pseudo-ephedrine are
key ingredients in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Attorney
General Lisa Madigan likened the ingredient to flour in a cake when
she announced the new legislation last June.

The new law requires retailers who sell products containing either
ephedrine or pseudo-ephedrine to display them either behind the
counter or in a locked cabinet. It also limits an individual sale to
two packages, and requires store employees to notify police if there
is reason to believe the person buying the medicine intends to use it
to make meth.

Ron Smith, a pharmacist for Schnucks in Carbondale, said the store is
one of several retail chains that had already implemented in-store
restrictions on the medicines. The new law is more lenient even than
some of Schnucks' policies.

"It's kind of inconvenient (to store Sudafed and like products in a
locked cabinet) for those who want to use it for legitimate purposes,
and for us because we have to keep unlocking the cabinet," he said.
Smith said Sudafed in particular, however, has been under lock and key
for about a year already to curb the thefts that were emptying the
shelves of the product.

Smith said Schnucks has also already limited sale of the medicine to
one package per customer.

"Everyone who is responsible is watching (the drug) pretty closely,"
he said. "(The new law) will help, but if they really want to abuse
the medicine, they'll find a way to do it. At least this way they will
have to pay for it."

Another new law aimed at meth users increases the penalties for
causing someone to die as a result of a drug lab explosion. Meth labs
are highly mobile and bear little or no resemblance to the chemistry
labs encountered even at the junior high level. They are also prone to
explosion, sometimes even igniting when touched by water.

Though a law was passed last year that doubled sentences for meth
offenders who manufactured the drug with children in the vicinity,
another law effective today makes such manufacture itself evidence of
child abuse.

Another big change is the appearance of driver's licenses for those
under 21. Drivers under 21 will be issued a vertically-designed
driver's license, giving it a completely different appearance from the
standard horizontal design.

Other changes include bolder versions of the "under 18" and "under 21"
lettering currently on the licenses. Drivers under 21 get an ID with
the date of their 21st birthday highlighted in red.

"I think it sounds like a good idea," said Amelia Ketzle, who has
worked as a waitress at Tres Hombres in Carbondale for five years.

"It will still be necessary to check the dates if someone turns 21 but
hasn't got their new license yet," she said. "I card everyone who
looks like they might be younger, even if they are with people who are
older, and I work in the restaurant. It might be different in the bar.
I'm sure word gets around about where you can buy alcohol underage. I
don't think many people try it here."

De Ragsdale at Stix Bar and Billiards agrees the new license will
help.

"I'm glad they finally passed that," she said. "I think it will be a
lot easier on the bars. The (underage) people will know they'll have
an identification that is different from everyone else's. They'll know
they won't just be able to slide through."

Drivers under 21 who currently have a license will be able to keep
their current license.

Other laws of particular interest in Southern Illinois affect boating
and hunting.

One new law brings boating laws more in line with vehicle DUI laws and
sets penalties for leaving the scene of a boating accident. Depending
on the severity of the accident, the penalty could be a Class A
misdemeanor or a Class 2 or 4 felony.

A new hunting law allows partnership landowners one free deer permit
for every 40 acres of land, not to exceed three permits. A related law
opens some state public land for recreational hunting.

As of today, those choosing to drop out of high school must be 17
years old rather than 16, as was previously allowed. The legislation
also establishes new guidelines for truancy policies and creates a
graduation incentive program.

There is also a new Illinois income tax deduction for money paid into
College Illinois pre-paid tuition programs. The money paid into the
program was already tax exempt, but now there is up to a $10,000
deduction available.

Relevant especially to the Carbondale area with its high proportion of
rented properties are laws affecting renter and landlord
responsibilities. Renters are now able to make reasonable repairs at
the landlord's expense if the landlord fails to comply with the lease.
Landlords are also now required to pay utilities on time if utilities
are included in the lease.

The Bronze Star and Silver Star license plates available to qualifying
veterans will now be the same price as a regular license plate. When
the plates were originally issued, there was a $15 fee. The fee is now
waived.

In the wake of this flu season's vaccine shortage, a new law provides
free flu shots to anyone not covered under a health insurance plan.

Merging hospitals are required to maintain or improve the level of
charity care provided, according to another new law.

It was already aggravated assault to attack a sports official if the
attack was on public property. It is now considered aggravated assault
any time a known sports official is attacked.

Assaulting a sports official or coach at any level of competition can
result in a battery charge and the charges will be enhanced to an
aggravated assault if an individual knowingly assaults a sports
official or coach at any level of competition within or near an
athletic facility. The aggravated battery charge is a Class 3 felony
and if convicted White could be sentenced to a maximum of two to five
years in prison and fined up to $25,000.

People who say they gained weight or other problems from eating fast
food are prohibited from filing civil lawsuits seeking damages.

"Obesity is a serious problem in Illinois," said Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
"But blaming a restaurant for weight gain is not the answer."

Public bodies -- county boards, city councils, park district boards of
commissioners, school boards and so on -- must keep written minutes of
open and closed meetings. The minutes from closed meetings must be
verbatim, or word for word.

It is also now illegal to videotape people without their
consent.

Here's a round-up of other laws:

Crime

The state police are now required to compare DNA evidence from a
sexual assault with DNA evidence in the FBI database. In addition, an
oversight committee has been created to make recommendations and
standardize forensic lab procedures.

Probation is no longer an option for DUI offenders who repeatedly
offend with a child in the vehicle.

Hill jumping -- using an incline to make a vehicle airborne -- is now
considered reckless homicide if a death results from a vehicle being
intentionally driven in such a manner.

Those who have been convicted of reckless homicide in another state
are denied driving privileges in Illinois.

Penalties are increased for those leaving the scene of an accident and
for those who profit from prostituting young children or severely
mentally disabled adults.

Domestic abuse offenders must now be held a minimum of 72 hours on a
second offense. The fine for domestic violence and sexual assault is
increased. Orders of protection have been made more enforceable by
defining the words "stay away."

Child sex offenders are prohibited from owning or working at a
business where the offender is involved with picture or video taking
of children. Other conditions are placed on parole for dangerous sex
offenders.

Orders of protection issued in Illinois are enforceable in any other
state.

Cross burning is officially considered a hate crime.

License, Registration

Proof of liability insurance is required when an owner gets or renews
license plates.

Attempting to bribe a driving examiner now results in loss of driving
privileges for 120 days and is considered a felony.

A $20 late fee is assigned to motorists who fail to renew their
vehicle registration on time. There is a 30-day grace period.

State Identification Cards will now cost about five times as much as
they did. Fees have gone from $4 to $20 for new, renewed or duplicate
cards, and from $2 to $10 for corrected cards. Those over 65 years
old, disabled applicants or residents of veterans homes or hospitals
get their cards free.

Business

Employers are required to give 60 days notice before mass layoffs,
relocation or employment loss.

Trust funds may be established for pets.

State agencies must give preference to American-made articles,
materials and supplies.

Employers may not refuse to deduct dues for a recognized
union.

The definition of "small business" has been expanded for eligibility
in state contracts.

Illinois Department of Transportation and local authorities may
establish a permit system for milk trucks.

A pilot program will be put in place to intercept income tax return
money if fees are owed to a circuit court.

Health, Education

Illinois is required to have a statewide health improvement plan by
2006.

Public and private colleges must install sprinkler systems in
dormitories.

A new program, the Grow Our Own Teacher Education Act, is established
to recruit and train potential educators in hard-to-staff and low
income areas.

School health exams must include obesity data and allow the state to
collect that information.

Scholarships have been expanded to include nurses pursuing graduate
degrees in designated shortage areas.

Discrimination based on participation in cancer trials.

A prison warden may give consent for medical treatment for a prisoner
on a life-threatening hunger strike.

Families

Grandparents, great-grandparents and siblings may petition for child
visitation.

Illinois has a new holiday. The first Sunday after Labor Day is now
Great Grandparents Day.

Remember: Ignorance of the law will not hold up as a
defense in court. If in doubt, find out.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake