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Texting While Driving Penalties Increase

A hand holding a phone with text messages behind the wheel of a car.
StockSnap//Pixabay
Illinois is increasing efforts to stop drivers from texting.

Stronger penalites for texting while driving took effect on July 1st.  

Drivers who are caught texting behind the wheel will receive a moving violation for their first offence. Previously, first-time offenders were treated as nonmoving violations.

Moving violations are recorded on person's driving record, and the motorist will also be fined and held liable for court costs. Anyone with three moving violations in a 12-month period will have their driver's license suspended.

Studies have shown that texting while driving is just as bad or worsethan driving drunk. Despite that, a studyfrom The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 34.6% of drivers sent texts while driving and 44.9% of drivers read texts despite being behind the wheel.

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