New Illinois Law Makes Your Work Meetings from the Car Illegal

There's a new law coming in Illinois that makes it illegal to attend your work Zoom meeting while you're driving. However, there are a couple of exceptions.

New Illinois Driving Laws

In 2023, there weren't many new driving laws or amendments, but there's already one new one going into effect on January 1, 2024.

Here's a quick refresher on the driving laws that have been on the books since the beginning of 2023:

SB03793: School Zone Changes

If you don't stop for a school bus when students are either getting on or off the bus, you can add community service to your list of penalties if you get caught. You'll also get community service if you're speeding in excess of 20 miles per hour.

RELATED: Illinois Parents Share Hilarious School Drop-Off Pet Peeves

SB03216: Clarifications to Illinois Vehicle Code

Get our free mobile app

According to NBCChicago.com, the Illinois Vehicle Code has been amended to add that a licensed physical therapist "can verify that a person is a person with disabilities."

HB3772: Relief for Victims of Carjackings, Stolen Vehicles

I'm calling this new legislation the "foot removal law." Thank you, State of Illinois, for removing your foot from the a**es of any of us who could be the victim of a car-jacking or theft. Before this law, if someone had stolen your car and violated some other laws, you were responsible for any fees, fines, or penalties. The new law states:

[...] a person shall not be liable for violations, fees, fines, or penalties during the period in which the motor vehicle was reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency as stolen or hijacked.

The relief comes in the form of reimbursement. The example I read from NBC Chicago shared the fact that there are caps in terms of how much you can be reimbursed. If your stolen vehicle was impounded, the reimbursement maximum is $1,000.

HB04716: Changes to Drivers Education Standards

For new drivers under the age of 18, the type of driving instruction is going to change. The new education standard will be based on the national Novice Teen Driver Education and Training Administrative Standards. This replaces the current structure that required the State Board of Education and the Secretary of State to work together.

New Illinois Driving Laws Going Into Effect in 2024

Here's the new law that Gov. Pritzker just signed.

RELATED: Can You Guess Which Illinois City Has the Absolute Worst Drivers?

HB2431: Making it Illegal to Videoconference While Driving

The amendment to the Illinois Vehicle Code now explicitly forbids using an electronic communication device to participate in a video conference or access a social media site.

There is an exemption, if your device can be used hands-free or in a voice-activated manner, so long as it does not require more than pressing a single button to activate or terminate the app you're using.

The law takes effect on January 1st, 2024.

According to MyStateline.com, there are 3 times when it IS legal to use your phone when it's not hands-free.

1. To report an emergency situation.
2. While parked on the shoulder of a roadway.
3. While stopped due to normal traffic being obstructed and the vehicle is in neutral or park.

RELATED: Most Bizzare Items Stolen From Illinois Residents