Village weighs 'distracted driving' law

Published: March. 14, 2006 at 11:55 AM

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.

© 2006 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
Drug promising in immune system therapy (4 min)
Madoff victims confront SIPC (26 min)
Mars Orbiter taken out of 'safe mode'
Quick Fix-brand trail mix is recalled
Some Alka-Seltzer cold gels recalled
Watercooler Stories
Jockstrip: The world as we know it.
fark
A blood-alcohol level of .39 will do a number on anyone's liver, but what's really impressive is...
Photoshop this lit up lady bird
Ever wonder just what protocol the TSA uses to ruin your flight? ABC news provides a handy link...
Two hot teachers didn't get the memo about having sex with students, are suspended from their jobs...
Michigan police on the hunt for "Bad Breath Bandit." The Scope of his crime wave? He a-Certs himself,...
Man spends $700,000 visiting every country in the world and comes back with some of the worst vacation...