Village weighs 'distracted driving' law

WINNETKA, Ill., March 14 (UPI) -- The Winnetka, Ill., police chief has proposed a "distracted driving" law that -- among routine prohibitions -- would also ban tuning the radio, a report said.

Police Chief Joseph DeLopez said his plan would outlaw radio tuning, talking to passengers and tending to children or pets while driving in addition to the more typical bans on using electronic devices, reading the newspaper or applying makeup.

"The issue runs deeper than the use of cell phones," DeLopez wrote of his proposal, which was the result of a citizen panel.

Village trustee Sandra Berger said police probably would enforce the ban only if there were an accident.

"Fixing their iPods, putting on makeup or eating a sandwich -- that's bizarre," Berger told the Chicago Tribune.

While Chicago and other Illinois cities have banned using cell phones while driving, Winnetka would be the first in Illinois to ban "distracted driving," the National Conference of State Legislatures said.

Only Connecticut, New Hampshire and the District of Columbia have distracted driving laws on the books, the American Automobile Association says.