City of Evanston Blog
New Laws Coming Soon
The City Council recently passed an increase in the fine for speeding in a school zone. This new fine will go into effect on February 26. The City will be doing a campaign over the next few weeks to raise awareness of this and overall school traffic safety.
The City Council is also set Monday to give final approval to a citywide ban on cell phone use while driving without using a hands-free device. This law would go into effect on March 15, 2010. The City plans an extensive outreach campaign to let residents know about this change before the law goes into effect.
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5 Comments
A $500 fine for speeding seems a little excessive to me.
February 3, 2010 8:09 AM
Maybe fines should be tied to a percentage of income as is done in Switzerland. However, I agree with Mark that revoking driving privileges is a more appropriate penalty than monetary fines for traffic infractions.
February 4, 2010 2:30 PM
John - How is $500 too much in comparison to the death of a small child due to a speeder in a school zone?
February 6, 2010 6:27 PM
juan luck valdez...
$500 is not too much compaired to a small childs death but the stipulation should be on the law like the no right turn on red "when students are present" kinda hard to kill a small child attending school if it is midnight on saturday in the middle of summer vacation.
and as far as the driving on the phone thing. i have seen multipul governmet officals in areas that already have this ban doing just this driving and talking on the phone. now i know the law exempts some of these officals but still what makes them so special that a bluetooth or even should i say it, wired head set is so hard to use that they need a special exemption from the rule. if one person has to follow the law then we all should. cops, gov officals etc are no different then the common civilian. our laws now a days are becoming more of a elitist club and money collection method then protection and order.
February 19, 2010 7:44 AM
If you want to ban ell phone use while driving, make the penalty significant.
An attorney earning $400/hour is not going to be bothered by a monetary fine.
Suggestion: Mandatory one-year loss of driver's license.
Caught driving during that one ear period: Mandatory 5-year prison term.
Sounds harsh? That's the only way to get people to stop putting the lives of others at risk.
February 2, 2010 8:17 PM