As June morphed into July, much of the talk and banter on social media
has focused on new laws, new taxes and, of course, Chance the Clapper.
Of particular interest,
especially in Buffalo Grove-themed groups on social media, has been the enforcement
by the Buffalo Grove Police Department of the change in the Illinois law that
make using wireless devices while driving a moving violation.
At issue, as much as
there can be issues on social media, was the level of enforcement. However, the
reality, however, is the law hasn’t changed, just the consequences.
And with any change
comes a plethora of interpretations, mostly by drivers who take seemingly take
offense on social media to enforcement by the Buffalo Grove police.
The law, and now the
enhanced enforcement, are pretty clear as to what drivers can – and cannot – do
with their wireless devices while driving.
Rather than rely on
social media posts, I checked with Sgt. Michelle Kondrat, who coordinates the
Traffic Unit for the Buffalo Grove Police Department because, my guess was,
that she would probably have more accurate information than some folks on
social media. Again, it was just a hunch.
According to Kondrat,
the key is that a wireless device should not be in your hand.
Period.
And this, Kondrat says, applies to when you are stopped
at a stoplight as well.
Not in your hand.
No en tu mano.
не в твоих руках.
Aapake haath mein nahin.
Bùzài nǐ shǒuzhōng.
But as sure as the
sparrows come back to Capistrano and the buzzards to Hinckley, someone will try
and find a loophole best known as an excuse.
There aren’t any.
What do exist are a few
exceptions. For example, if you are at a
railroad crossing waiting for a train for an extended period of time,
you can manipulate your device. However, according to Kondrat, your vehicle
needs to be in park or neutral. The same
holds true where traffic is stopped for an extended period of time due to
construction. Slow traffic in a construction zone is not a time to grab your
cell phone.
It is acceptable,
although many people may not think advisable, to make adjustments to equipment
that Kondrat says “integrated into the vehicle” or even in a windshield or
dashboard mount.
So, what results in a
motorist getting pulled over? “Most of the contacts are the result of the
vehicle moving with phone in driver’s hand,” Kondrat says.
Still not sure? Check out the law as approved by the state legislature.
It’s not a new law, just
new penalties.
