New Laws for Illinois Starting in 2016

With the change of the new year comes several changes in Illinois law. Check out what might affect your day-to-day life starting out on January 1, 2016.

1. Prescription drugs: As an added measure of protection to keep your prescriptions from being taken by others, pill bottles containing opioid pharmaceutical prescriptions will now come with combination locks, like a padlock.
2. Truck tows: This law prohibits towing companies from moving a commercial vehicle under its own power (as opposed to hauling the vehicle away) without the authorization of law enforcement.
3. Drunk driving: Currently, a fourth DUI means the permanent loss of your driver's license. Under this new law, people with four DUIs could apply for a restricted license if they can prove they've been alcohol and drug free for three years. If approved, the driver would be required to have a breath ignition-interlock device in their vehicle.
4. School suspensions and expulsions: In an effort to keep more kids in class, schools will be required to exhaust every disciplinary outlet before expelling or suspending a student for more than three days.
5. Pet abuse: Owners of dogs and/or cats that sustain life-threatening injuries or die as a result of being left in extreme heat or cold could face a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
6. Child custody and visitation: Illinois courts want to ease the tension in custody battles by instead doing away with custody altogether. Instead, the separate responsibilities of education, health, religion, and so on will be will be assigned to one or both parents as the situation sees fit. It's a complicated notion, so you might want to read up on this one if you are considering filing for divorce.
7. Synthetic marijuana and K2: While marijuana will still be legal, it will be illegal to be in possession of, distribute, or manufacture synthetic marijuana or K2.
8. Boat operation: Anyone born after January 1, 1998 operating at least a 10-hp engine will be required to obtain a boating safety certificate approved by the Department of Natural Resources.
9. Grounds for divorce: Another tricky divorce law. Currently, divorce can be filed for under "fault" or "no fault." The new law allows only no fault grounds. Check it out if you're considering divorce.
10. Cameras at Grandma's: Families will be allowed to install their own recording devices  in their own nursing home rooms. The same goes for care facilities for the developmentally disabled. This will help families ensure that their loved ones aren't being mistreated.
11. Underage drinking: In the event that immediate medical treatment is needed for an underage drinker, the ill/injured minor and any underage drinker who may call 911 on that person's behalf will both be granted immunity. This is to encourage underage drinkers to get medical assistance if they truly need it.
12. Traffic tickets: To earn money for police equipment such as body cameras, the cost of traffic tickets will be raised by $5. The law also sets new rules for police training and conduct.
13. Student athlete concussions: All schools will be required to have a concussion oversight team that will develop return to learn and play protocols for when a student sustains a concussion during school sports.