©2011 Galesburg Broadcasting Co.
| New Law Would Ban Photos and Videos to be Taken of Vehicle Accidents |
(IRN)-It's illegal to text or email with a cell phone while driving in Illinois. But a bill that's passed the Illinois House would add taking pictures or video with a phone to that list.
State Representative Tom Holbrook (D-Belleville) is the sponsor of the bill. He presented it on the House floor as a measure that would disallow cell phone picture and video taking while driving by an accident scene.
"When you're driving at an accident scene, you ought to be concentrated on driving, not trying to videotape the accident," said Holbrook on the floor.
But language in the bill changes the part of the law that defines "electronic messages" which currently includes the drafting of emails, text messages or instant messages on cell phones while operating a motor vehicle. The bill adds "digital photograph" and "video" to the language, meaning a picture or video cannot be taken while driving in any instance. A separate statute has been amended in the bill that says cell phones can't be used within 500 feet of an accident scene.
State Representative Jack Franks (D-Marengo) tried to clarify this point on the House floor.
"Aren't they already prohibited from doing that right now, such as prohibited from texting while driving?" asked Franks.
"Both digital photo and video were not included in that language and neither were accident scenes," said Holbrook. "Only certain areas like schools and construction areas. This amends that act and adds those two items."
HB1984 passed the House on a vote of 89-18 and now heads to the Senate.
(Source: Illinois Radio Network) |
|
| 03 14 11 by Newsroom |
Click here for the WGIL News Archive
Click here for national news
The following provision applies to all visitors (which shall include persons and representatives of legal entities, whether such representatives are persons or digital engines of a kind that crawls, indexes, scrapes, copies, stores or transmits digital content). By accessing this Web site or digital service, you specifically acknowledge and agree that: (i) Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium; (ii) No Associated Press materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use; (iii) The Associated Press will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing; (iv) The Associated Press is an intended third party beneficiary of these terms and conditions and it may exercise all rights and remedies available to it; and (v) The Associated Press reserves the right to audit possible unauthorized commercial use of AP materials or any portion thereof at any time.
