A whole host of new laws are set to go into effect when the ball drops this New Year’s Eve. In fact, a total of 237 new laws are set to go into effect January 1, 2016. We don’t have enough room to explain each and every new law, so we’ve decided to explain five new laws and how they’ll impact criminal law proceedings in Illinois.
5 New Criminal Laws
1. Updated Multiple DUI Law – We explained this new law in a lengthy blog post earlier this year, so swing over there for an in-depth look at the law, but here’s a quick recap. Under the new law, a person with four DUIs on their record may be able to regain their driving privileges if they remain sober and drug free for three years, if they agree to have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle for at least five years, and if they stay out of trouble on the roads during a five-year restricted driving period.
2. Pet Abuse Law – Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner has taken a tougher stance against pet owners who abuse their animals. The new law will make it a Class A misdemeanor for a person to leave their pet unattended in extremely hot or cold temperatures. Any person who subjects their pets to extreme weather conditions can face upwards of a $2,500 fine.
3. Pawn Shop Theft Prevention – In an effort to prevent stolen items from being quickly sold off to pawn shops and resold to unsuspecting customers, Illinois has extended the duration for which a pawn shop must hold items before selling them. The old law required pawn shops to hold items for 48 hours before selling them, but now that has been extended to 10 days. Lawmakers say this will give people time to report an item stolen, and for police to check out area pawn shops for the item. Another stipulation forbids pawn shops from purchasing items with destroyed serial numbers.
4. Powdered Alcohol Ban – Although powdered alcohol has received federal approval, lawmakers in Illinois decided to ban the substance from the shelves. Lawmakers feared that the substance could lead to accidental overdoses or make it easier for a person to spike someone else’s drink. It could also easily be carried into sporting events or concerts, which could lead to unruly patrons or crowds. Senate Bill 67 will keep the powdered alcohol off the shelves here in Illinois.
5. New Family Laws – Although this isn’t exactly a criminal law, we also help with divorce and custody agreements, and boy are those laws in for some big changes in 2016. The new laws change all grounds for divorce to “No Fault.” You’ll still need to prove that the marriage has broken down and is beyond repair, but there will be no more divorces that site one party “at fault.” Child custody agreements also get an overhaul. Traditional custody and visitation rules will give way to “parental responsibilities” and parenting time. Judges can determine whether one or both parents will be responsible for certain aspects of a child’s life, like education, health, religion and after-school activities. We’ll have more on these new family laws in the near future.