Pubdate: Mon, 02 Jan 2006
Source: Daily Republican Register (IL)
Copyright: 2006 Daily Republican Register
Contact:  http://www.tristate-media.com/mtcarmelregister/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3577
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

RIGHTER: NEW LAWS FOR 2006 TARGET METH-MAKING, BETTER CONSUMER PROTECTIONS

SPRINGFIELD - Cracking down on the illegal manufacture  of the
dangerous street drug methamphetamine, better  protecting consumers
from the devastating financial  effects of identity theft, and
strengthening  registration laws for convicted sex offenders are among
 the hundreds of new laws that take effect in January,  according to
State Senator Dale Righter (R-Mattoon).

Senate Bill 273 limits the purchase of cold medicines  containing the
powder form of pseudoephedrine, the main  ingredient used to make
methamphetamine, and requires  individuals to show identification and
sign a log when  purchasing these medicines. Senate Bill 273 further 
prohibits anyone younger than 18 from buying medicines  that contain
pseudoephedrine.

The new Illinois law is based on a similar law in  Oklahoma. Righter
says only two months after  pseudoephedrine controls were enacted in
Oklahoma, the  number of methamphetamine laboratories in that state 
dropped by 50 percent, and by 80 percent eight months  later. Other
states - including Missouri, Indiana,  Wisconsin, Iowa and Kentucky -
have had similar  results. The new law takes effect Jan. 15.

Other meth-related laws take effect Jan. 1. House Bill  3507 provides
that methamphetamine restitution be made  to cover costs incurred by
local law enforcement  agencies and public agencies in securing a 
methamphetamine site. House Bill 3504 provides for an  additional $100
fine if a person is found guilty of a  meth-related offense.

Several new laws taking effect Jan. 1 seek to protect  consumers from
identity theft and make it easier to  prosecute those who steal
personal information.

Senate Bill 445 prohibits state universities and  community colleges
from printing an individual's Social  Security number on any document
that is required to  access services. House Bill 1565 makes it illegal
to  use hardware or software that can decipher encrypted  information
from bar codes on driver's licenses or  identification cards.

House Bill 457 eliminates the statute of limitations  for prosecuting
identity theft.

House Bill 2700 allows people on trial for identity  theft to be tried
in any county where the offense  occurred or the victim resides.

House Bill 1058 allows a victim of identity theft to  place a security
freeze on his/her credit report.

Other bills that become law January 1 include:

E Drug-induced homicide (HB 1109/P.A. 94-0560) -  Provides that a
person who unlawfully delivers a  controlled substance and causes
another person's death  as a result of the use of the drug commits the
offense  of drug-induced homicide.

E DUI (SB 1495/P.A. 94-0609 and HB 1081/P.A. 94-0113) -  Imposes
prison sentences on DUI offenders if the DUI  violation was the cause
of the death of one or more  persons, unless the court determines that
extraordinary  circumstances exist and require probation. (HB 
1471/P.A. 94-0329) - Provides that a person who drives  while under
the influence is guilty of aggravated DUI  if they have no valid
driver's license or were not  covered by liability insurance. (HB
657/P.A. 94-0110) -  Increases the penalties for DUI while
transporting a  child. (HB 3816/P.A. 94-0116) - Increases penalties
for  people found guilty of DUI three or more times. (HB  1351/P.A.
94-0115) - Subjects to chemical testing any  person arrested for
leaving the scene of an accident  involving death or personal injury.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin