As 2019 comes to an end, we will say goodbye to a few things and prepare for what the new year will bring us.
Illinois already has so many laws, restrictions and codes we have to abide by everyday. It's also one of the top states for highest taxes. In 2020, many more changes will be added to the list. Here are a few you may not know about...
Higher Annual Fees.
Illinois Vehicle Registration Fees will be going up from $101 to $151 for regular passenger vehicles and electric vehicles will sky rocket from $35 every 2 years to $251 ANNUALLY. Ouch! Large trucks will also see a $100 increase when renewing their registration.
New Trade-In Tax.
Trading in a vehicle? If it's worth more than $10,000 your vehicle trade-in taxes will be doubled. No more trading in your vehicle and putting that full amount towards a new one, you'll have to pay taxes on that trade-in first. Then, whatever amount is left will be put toward your new vehicle, and you'll have to pay taxes on that, too.
With these new taxes, maybe Illinois will be able to afford to fix the potholes! Or at least finish some of the construction they start but seem to never finish.
Enforcing Scott's Law.
Scott's Law. With the many unfortunate injuries and deaths to state troopers involving motorists crashing into them, Scott's Law has come into effect. Scott's Law requires motorists to slow down, change lanes and proceed with caution when approaching disabled or emergency vehicles on the side of the road. Fines will be increasing to start at $250 for the first offense and $750 for the second offense. Knowing what to do will also be implemented into driving tests!
Zipper Merge Method. Requires the Secretary of State to include in the Rules of the Road guide information teaching drivers the use of the zipper merge method. Requires SOS to include at least one question about Scott's Law on the written driving test and creates the Move-Over Task Force to study the issue of violations of Scott's Law.
Fatal Hit-and-Run Sentencing. Creates an aggravating factor at sentencing for someone who commits the offense of leaving the scene of a fatal accident while intoxicated or while using an electronic communication device.
Goodbye YouTube.
Illinois is a Hands-Free state and prohibits use of hand held cell phones, texting or using other electronic communication devices while driving. Hands-free devices such as Bluetooth are allowed for drivers 19 years and older. But, as of Jan 1st, it will be illegal to watch or stream videos while behind the wheel.
Hopefully this will get people to put down their dang phones! Way too many accidents because people can't let go of their phone long enough to just drive and pay attention to the road!
More Cameras.
Improving Highway Shooting Investigations. Illinois Expressway Safety Act will upgrade more than 600 cameras on state highways to ensure they have recording capabilities and will be installing additional cameras in Cook County. This is to help with accident and criminal investigations.
School Bus Stop Arm.
Be sure to STOP for stopped school buses. Failure to stop for a stopped school bus is not only against the law, it's DANGEROUS! Fines for drivers who refuse to stop will be increasing to $300 for the first offense and $1,000 for the second offense.
Multicolored No More.
Tinted Headlights. Any smoked or tinted headlights will no longer be allowed as of January 1, 2020. Back to basics!
Excessive Vehicle Idling. Stipulates that a person who operates a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,000 pounds or more operating on diesel fuel on property that, offers paid parking services to vehicle owners, does not involve fuel dispensing, and is located in an affected area within a county of more than three million residents but outside of a municipality of more than two million residents may not cause or allow the motor vehicle, when it is not in motion, to idle for more than a total of 10 minutes within any 60-minute period under any circumstances if the vehicle is within 200 feet of a residential area. This does not apply to school buses, waste-hauling vehicles, facilities operated by the Illinois Department of Transportation, vehicles owned by a public utility and operated to power equipment necessary in the restoration, repair, modification, or installation of a utility service, or ambulances.
Now if only they could pass a law to ban the blind-you-bright headlights, you know the ones that can see a fly's butt from 3 miles away...
But alas, there's always next year...
These are just a few of the any new changes coming to Illinois in 2020. To see what else is in store, check out Chicago Tribune's list.
How do you like these new changes? Let us know!
J&S FixQuik Automotive | Mobile Auto Repair | Aurora, IL
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