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We’re all familiar with motor vehicle recalls. They happen all the time. Whether you hear about it in the news or receive a letter from the manufacturer, we’ve owned cars that have been recalled at one point or another.

But how exactly does an automobile manufacturer decide whether to issue a recall? And what is the process that is followed once that decision is made?

The Chicago Tribune recently examined that process in an article that focused on the obligations of car manufacturers upon learning of a large scale safety defect. As explained in the article, once a defect is found, the auto manufacturer must follow a specific procedure:

Most safety recalls are voluntarily initiated by an automaker after determining that one or more of its vehicles has a safety defect…Federal regulations require that once a manufacturer finds such a defect, it must report it within five working days to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the agency that enforces motor vehicle safety regulations.

But, how exactly are automobile defects discovered in the first place? Well, according to the article, vehicle manufacturers conduct safety studies and tests, during which they sometimes find safety defects. Other times, they learn of defects after receiving multiple reports from different owners regarding problems with a particular car model. And other times, crash tests conducted by NHTSA and organizations such as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety result in data that indicates safety issues with particular models.

Once a safety issue or defect is identified, the automaker must notify the NHSTA, even if the manufacturer has not yet figured out what is causing the problem or how to fix it.

Of course, the reason that manufacturers are required to follow these procedures is to ensure that all motor vehicles are as safe as possible, since the safer the cars are, the less likely that passengers will be be seriously injured in a car accident. Because prevention is always the best policy.

You can learn more about recent automobile recalls and see if a car that you own has been recalled by heading over to the Kicking Tires Blog.

The Ankin Law Office LLC (www.ankinlaw.com) handles  workers’ compensation and personal injury cases. You can reach the firm by calling (312) 346-8780.

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Whether women are more likely to be injured in the event of a motor vehicle accident is up for debate, although the results of a recent study tend to support that conclusion. As reported at the Huffington Post, according to a study published just a few months ago in the American Journal of Public Health, women are more likely to be seriously injured in car accidents.

The statistics gathered during the course of the study, which was based upon an analysis of accidents occurring between 1998-2008, support the finding that women involved in car accidents are 47% more likely to suffer from serious injuries. The reasons for the increased injuries? Well, the study’s authors believe that the increased number of injuries occurred because the vehicles’ safety features were tailored toward men at the obvious expense of women, as explained in this U.S. News Health post regarding the study:

The investigators found that female drivers wearing seatbelts were more likely to be injured than male drivers wearing seatbelts, and that belted female drivers suffered more chest and spine injuries than belted male drivers in comparable crashes.

The researchers noted “a higher risk of lower extreme injuries reported for female drivers as a result of their relatively short stature, preferred seating posture and a combination of these factors yielding lower safety protection from the standard restraint devices.”

However, some dispute the applicability of the study’s finding to most cars on the road today, as explained at the Huffington Post:

ABC News reported that the findings probably don’t apply to cars made today, since researchers only looked at car crashes between 1998 and 2008, and some of those cars were likely made before 1998.

“The average life of a car is around 12 years,” Clarence Ditlow, of the Center for Auto Safety, told ABC News. “The study would have a lot more value if it were limited to 2000 and later model year vehicles to make sure all vehicles had female friendly airbags.”

And, even though it’s possible that women are more likely to suffer serious injuries following an automobile accident, according to a 2007 study, men are more likely to sustain fatal injuries when involved in a traffic accident.

So, gender issues aside, automobile accidents pose serious risks for everyone involved. The best way to avoid getting injured in an accident is to do everything you can to prevent the accident from occurring in the first place. And, in the event of an unavoidable accident, make sure that you’ve protected yourself and your loved ones. Take every safety precaution possible. Buy cars with updated safety features, buckle up, and drive safely and defensively.

The Ankin Law Office LLC (www.ankinlaw.com) handles  workers’ compensation and personal injury cases. You can reach the firm by calling (312) 346-8780.

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In Caburnay v. Norwegian American Hospital, No. 1–10–1740, the plaintiff was an anesthesiologist who tripped and fell in the lobby of the hospital where he worked. On the date of the accident, he was waiting for an elevator when he tripped over a floor mat that he alleged was folded. As he fell, he hit the back of his head and was rendered a quadriplegic.

He filed a lawsuit against the defendant, an Illinois hospital, alleging that its failure to maintain the area around the elevator resulted in his fall and subsequent injuries. He alleged, among other things, that the defendant “failed to properly, routinely and adequately inspect the floor of the [elevator area] to ascertain whether any dangerous and hazardous conditions existed,” “failed to place a clean and secured floor mat,” “failed to place a level and secured floor mat on the floor,” and “improperly placed the floor mat so that it was subject to become hazardous, movement, wrinkles and folds.”

One of the issues on appeal was whether there was sufficient proof offered by Caburnay to show that there were issues of fact regarding the defendant’s negligence. Carburnay claimed that his testimony that he felt his foot catch on a fold or buckle in the rug was sufficient to create an issue of fact. However, the defendant argued that there was no evidence offered that tended to prove that a fold in the carpet existed and that a fair reading of Carburnay’s deposition testimony indicated that he had no idea why or how he fell.

The Appellate Court of Illinois, First District, disagreed with the defendant, concluding that Caburnay had offered sufficient evidence regarding the defendant’s negligence:

Caburnay has alleged specific facts regarding how and why the mat was improperly placed. As discussed above, Caburnay’s deposition testimony indicates that a fold or buckle existed in the mat at the time of the fall as evidence by the fact that he felt his foot catch on it, and the testimony of Krause and Gonzalez, coupled with the expert opinions of Litwick and Kenzidor, were sufficient to create a question of fact as to whether Norwegian negligently placed the mat in question in front of the elevator, causing Caburnay to fall. Therefore, summary judgment in favor of Norwegian on this issue was improper.

Accordingly, the Court reversed the lower court’s judgment and allowed the personal injury case to proceed, thus permitting Caburnay to seek recovery for his very serious injuries arising from this very tragic set of circumstances.

The Ankin Law Office LLC (www.ankinlaw.com) handles  workers’ compensation and personal injury cases. You can reach the firm by calling (312) 346-8780.

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Parents should be aware of a nationwide recall of children’s bicycle helmets. The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission recently recalled approximately 30,400 Little Tricky kid’s bike helmets after tests determined that helmets failed to meet safety standards.

Bicycle helmets are an important part of bicycle safety and their use helps to prevent severe head and brain injuries, as explained in this East County Magazine article:

“It’s estimated that wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of severe brain injuries by approximately 85 to 90 percent”…

“Head injuries have potentially the most severe consequences in the both the short and long term,” said Sue Cox, Director of Trauma Services for Rady Children’s Hospital. “According to HHSA, medics noted traumatic injuries to the head or neck in more than half the patients that were not wearing helmets at the time of their injuries.”

Bike helmets help to prevent injury by virtue of their unique design and are intended to bear the brunt of an extreme impact occurring during a bicycle accident by protecting “the top and upper part of the forehead and back of the head.”

Because bicycle helmets are such important safety devices, it’s particularly distressing when children’s helmets are recalled for safety violations, as is the case with the recent Little Tricky helmet recall.

This wpbf.com article describes the reason for the recall and the specific helmets that were recalled:

In a news release, the CPSC said children who use the multipurpose helmets produced by Triple Eight Distribution Inc., of Port Washington, N.Y., could suffer impact head injuries in a fall.According to the CPSC, the Little Tricky helmets are marketed for children and youth and feature a large Little Tricky logo on both sides of the helmet…

The helmets were sold at bicycle and sports stores and other retailers nationwide and online from August 2006 through November 2011 for about $40.

You can learn more about the recall in that article, including specific descriptions of the affected helmets and informational phone numbers.

The Ankin Law Office LLC (www.ankinlaw.com) handles  workers’ compensation and personal injury cases. You can reach the firm by calling (312) 346-8780.

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Last month we reported on a number of new Illinois laws going into effect. Another interesting new law of note is one that, in certain situations, allows motorcycles and bicycles to run red lights. The law provides that some motorcyclists and bicyclists can, after a reasonable amount of time,proceed through a red light. Although the concept of a “reasonable amount of time”  hasn’t been defined, State Rep. Dan Beiser (D-Alton) explains what it means in this CBS Chicago article:

“A reasonable amount of time, which was not defined in the bill, will be 120 seconds,” says Beiser. “So two minutes, that’s what we’ve come to agreement on and that was part of the governor’s concern.”

The law is not applicable everywhere in Illinois, however. The law only applies to municipalities with populations with less than 2 million people. So means that Chicago motorcyclists and bicyclists do not fall under the ambit of this new law and may not run red lights.

You might be wondering why Illinois would pass a law such as this one–one that sounds like it will do nothing but increase the likelihood of car accidents. Well, there’s actually a good reason for this law. As explained in the CBA Chicago article, the impetus behind the passage of the law was a flaw in the recognition systems of most traffic lights:

Motorcycles and bicycles often aren’t big enough to trigger magnetic sensors that switch traffic lights from red to green, WBBM Newsradio’s Alex Degman reports.

That could mean the riders either break the law and run the red light, or wait until another vehicle comes along.

Let’s hope that Illinois motorcyclists and bicyclists exercise their newfound ability to drive through red lights with great care. Because their vehicles are smaller than cars, it is sometimes more difficult for other motorist to see them. The last thing Illinois needs is an increase in collisions between cars, motorcycles and bicycles. Hopefully all Illinoisans will drive carefully, keeping this new law in mind while keeping their eyes on the road and looking out for those driving through red lights.

The Ankin Law Office LLC (www.ankinlaw.com) handles  workers’ compensation and personal injury cases. You can reach the firm by calling (312) 346-8780.

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The Chicago Tribune recently reported on a lawsuit arising from a bizarre set of circumstances, but which raised an interesting legal issue. The facts in the case, Zokhrabov v. Jeung-Hee Park. (2011 WL 6823803), are decidedly gory and tragic.

On September 13, 2008, 18-year-old Hiroyuki Johowas struck by an Amtrak train traveling approximately 70 miles per hour, and was killed. The plaintiff, 58-year-old Gayane Zokhrabov, was standing nearly 100 feet from the point of impact and was struck and injured by a large part of Johowas’ body as it flew through the air after the collision. Her injuries included a shoulder injury, a leg fracture, and a wrist fracture.

The plaintiff brought a lawsuit against Johowas’ estate, alleging that he negligently crossed the railroad tracks, resulting in his death and her subsequent injuries.

While the factual scenario is disturbing, the case presented an interesting issue of causation reminiscent of Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad Co., a personal injury case that most lawyers study in law school. In Palsgraf, the issue was one of causation and revolved around whether the defendant could be liable for the plaintiff’s injuries after a somewhat random series of events occurred. The events ultimately caused a scale to fall on and injure the plaintiff, a railway passenger waiting for a train and standing far away from the initial event which resulted in the cascade of events that ultimately caused the scale to topple over.

The issue faced by the Appellate Court of Illinois, First District was a similar one: Was it reasonably foreseeable that a pedestrian would be struck, killed, and flung down the tracks and onto the passenger platform and if so, did the pedestrian owe a duty of care to the passenger?

As explained in the Chicago Tribune article, the Court concluded that the defendant pedestrian was liable:

A Cook County judge dismissed Zokhrabov’s lawsuit against Joho’s estate, finding that Joho could not have anticipated Zokhrabov’s injuries.

A state appeals court, after noting that the case law involving “flying bodies” is sparse, has disagreed, ruling that “it was reasonably foreseeable” that the high-speed train would kill Joho and fling his body down the tracks toward a platform where people were waiting.

Thus, this tragic case drew to a close. And, while this case resulted in an interesting legal issue, it was, nonetheless, a very sad set of circumstances and one that we hope will never be repeated.

The Ankin Law Office LLC (www.ankinlaw.com) handles  workers’ compensation and personal injury cases. You can reach the firm by calling (312) 346-8780.

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Sometimes during litigation, lawyers go too far. They become overzealous and  let their personal experiences influence their tactical decisions. Unfortunately, doing so can oftentimes lead to disastrous results for your client. That’s exactly what happened in Petraski v. Thedos, No. 1–10–3218, a recent decision issued by the Appellate Court of Illinois, First District.

The facts in this case are decidedly tragic. The plaintiff, Margaret Petraski was in a vehicle which was struck by the vehicle being driven by Officer Deborah Thedos, of the Cook County Sheriffs Police Department. The car accident occurred at an intersection and Ms. Petraski was was rendered a quadriplegic as a result of her injuries. There was evidence that the defendant drove through a red light while her cruiser’s lights were activated. However, there was also evidence that the plaintiff’s negligence may have contributed to the accident since she had been drinking on the evening of the accident.

Following a jury trial, wherein the jury issued a verdict in favor of the defense, the plaintiff appealed and the intermediate appellate court granted a new trial. The defense appealed that decision and on appeal to the First District, the plaintiff argued that the intermediate appellate court properly concluded that a new trial should be granted.

One issue on appeal was whether, during closing statements, defense counsel improperly commented on the societal impact of drunk driving. The Court described the specific statements at issue as follows:

Defense counsel also stated that Officer Thedos was “doing her job as a police officer that we, as residents of Cook County, pay her to do.” Finally, defense counsel closed with the following: “Let me share one of my images, when the aunt who helped raise me died from a drunk driver. * * * That’s an image I have. What do we want on our roads?” Plaintiff’s objection to this statement was overruled, and defense counsel continued: “Ladies and gentlemen, there was one person, one person that night who had the right to be on that road. That was this police officer.”

After considering the appropriate legal standards and case precedent, the Court concluded that defense counsel’s statements were highly irregular and likely prejudiced the jury’s deliberations:

The trial court found that defense counsel’s statement, however true, was not invited by plaintiff’s counsel and improperly invoked defense counsel’s personal loss to garner sympathy. “[I]t is highly improper for an attorney to do or say anything in argument the only effect of which will be to inflame the passions or arouse the prejudices of the jury against one of the parties without throwing any light upon the question for decision.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Svoboda v. Blevins, 76 Ill.App.2d 277, 281 (1966) (quoting Coal Creek Drainage & Levee District v. Sanitary District of Chicago, 336 Ill. 11, 45 (1929))…The trial court was in the best position to judge the effects of defense counsel’s comments, and it found that, while each of defense counsel’s improper statements alone may be insufficient to merit a new trial, cumulatively they constituted grounds for a new trial. Based on the evidence we cannot say the trial court’s decision to grant plaintiffs motion for new trial was arbitrary, fanciful, or unreasonable.

Accordingly, based on this error, along with a few others, the Court held that the plaintiff was entitled to a new trial, thus showing how important it is for lawyers to reign in their personal feelings when litigating a motor vehicle accident case and instead focus on the relevant evidence and legal standards.

The Ankin Law Office LLC (www.ankinlaw.com) handles  workers’ compensation and personal injury cases. You can reach the firm by calling (312) 346-8780.

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In an earlier post, we outlined a number of new Illinois laws that recently went into effect with the start of 2012. One of those laws requires that everyone in a vehicle buckle up, including backseat riders. Previously, backseat riders over 18 were exempt from the requirement to use a seatbelt, but effective January 1, 2012, in most cases everyone in a moving car has to buckle up.

Why was this law passed? As explained in a Chicago Sun-Times article, the goal is to protect the lives of backseat riders as well as those who sit in the front of a car:

Just like unrestrained front-seat riders, back-seat passengers who aren’t buckled up during an accident can suffer head, chest and abdominal trauma.

“And they can be thrown from the vehicle,” said James Doherty, medical director of trauma and critical care programs at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

Back-seat passengers also can become human projectiles during a crash, injuring or even killing others in the vehicle, he said.

The intent behind the law is sound, and based on statistics regarding car crashes, the law will undoubtedly reduce the number of crash-related injuries. As discussed in the article, seat belts reduce injuries related to automobile accidents by up to 50%.

There are a few exceptions to the new law, however. These include riders with a doctor’s excuse and “emergency vehicles, buses, taxis and passengers in delivery trucks that make frequent stops and that don’t exceed 15 mph…(and) people riding in a motor vehicle from 1965 or earlier.”

So, buckle up Illinois! You’ll avoid a traffic infarction and possibly avoid serious injuries in the event of a car accident.

The Ankin Law Office LLC (www.ankinlaw.com) handles  workers’ compensation and personal injury cases. You can reach the firm by calling (312) 346-8780.

While industrial jobs are hard to find in this economy, service-based roles have increased, causing more employees to suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, a painful disorder that is discomforting and sometimes there can be numbness of the hands. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is at the forefront of the new workplace and a significant health problem today. Because Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a common workplace injury, it is considered to be a worker’s compensation claim and there are many workers compensation questions surrounding it.

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI). CTS occurs when wrists are exposed to persistent and repetitive strain. The tissues surrounding the tendons become so enlarged that they compress the median nerve, which runs through the carpal tunnel, a passage in the wrist. CTS can cause the following symptoms though they can be different for everyone:

·  Numbness, tingling and pain in the hand, wrist and forearm

·  Impaired or lost nerve function

·  Reduced muscle control

·  Reduced grip strength

What are the causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Causes can include working hour after hour at a computer keyboard, meat cutting and wrapping, high speed assembly-line work, or any other activity where the hand and fingers are employed in repetitive motions for extended periods of time. Repeated motions performed in the course of normal work or other daily activities can result in repetitive motion disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome considered a work-related injury under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act?
Yes, the Illinois Supreme Court has said that because Carpal Tunnel Syndrome develops gradually and is not as the result of a sudden accident, employees can be compensated from the onset of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome under the Act.

What medical benefits am I entitled to after I develop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome at work?
For workers compensation claims you are entitled to receive 100% of all medical expenses that are reasonable and necessary to treat your condition. These include, but are not limited to, emergency room services, doctors’ visits, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, and prescriptions.

What wage benefits am I entitled to while I am off work because of my Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? For workers compensation claims you are entitled to temporary total disability compensation (TTD) while you are off work and are under active medical treatment. Temporary total disability compensation is based on a percentage of your average weekly wage, including overtime.

Will I be entitled to receive any other benefits after I return to work at my regular job after being treated for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
You may be entitled to receive compensation for the partial permanent loss of use of your hands or arms as a result of contracting CTS while on the job. Such compensation is called permanent partial disability compensation (PPD), and is received as the result of a settlement agreement between you and your employer, or as the result of the decision of the arbitrator assigned to your claim.

Who is at risk of developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Women are three times more likely than men to develop carpal tunnel syndrome, typically because wrist bones are naturally smaller in most women, creating a tighter space through which the nerves and tendons pass. The dominant hand is usually affected first and produces the most severe pain. The risk of developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is not confined to a single industry or job, but is common among assembly line work such as manufacturing, sewing, finishing, cleaning, and meat, poultry, or fish packing. CTS is three times more common among assemblers than among data-entry personnel.

Can Carpal Tunnel Syndrome be prevented?

At the workplace, workers can do on-the-job conditioning, perform stretching exercises, take frequent rest breaks, wear splints to keep wrists straight, and use correct posture and wrist position. Wearing fingerless gloves can help keep hands warm and flexible. Workstations, tools, tool handles, and tasks can be redesigned to enable the worker’s wrist to maintain a natural position during work.

If you do need to make a claim for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, an experienced attorney from our offices can help you navigate the various options in order to receive the proper compensation for your injuries.

As the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, more than 200 new laws will go into effect in Illinois including a database of first-degree murderers, stricter seat-belt enforcement and legislation that gives the public greater access to government information. To see all of the laws http://bit.ly/tMq23a

Andrea’s Law

Illinois residents and law enforcement agencies will be able to easily identify individuals convicted of first-degree murder with the establishment of a new public database. House Bill 263, better known as “Andrea’s Law“, requires all former first-degree murder convicts to be on a registry for 10 years following their release from prison. They will be placed on the existing Sex Offender Registry or the amended Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registry.

Stricter Seat Belt Enforcement

For the first time adults sitting in the back seat of a vehicle could be ticketed should they fail to wear a seat belt. House Bill 219 requires all adult passengers sitting in the back seat to wear a seat belt. Failure to comply could result in a fine not to exceed $25.

Increased Penalties for Financial Abuse of the Elderly

Criminals who take advantage of the elderly for financial gain will face stiffer penalties in 2012. House Bill 1689, increases criminal penalties for financial exploitation of the elderly, based on the amount of money that is stolen. Exploitation includes taking seniors’ money, property or valuables, denying services to conserve funds, or cashing pension or social security checks without permission.

Electronics Recycling Goes Mainstream in 2012

Illinois residents will no longer be able to toss the electronics out in the trash. Jan. 1 a new state law goes into effect banning electronics from landfills.

Creating a moving image of child pornography

Filming, videotaping or creating a moving image of child pornography, or possessing these materials, is a felony one class higher than photographing or owning photos of child pornography. Currently there is no distinction between moving pictures and a still photograph in Illinois’ child pornography law though the law does differentiate between actually filming or producing child pornography and possessing child pornography.

Anti-Epileptic Drug Notification

The Anti-Epileptic Drug Notification (SB 670/PA 97-0456) requires pharmacists to provide written notification to a patient when dispensing a prescription in which they have substituted a generic anti-epileptic for a brand name anti-epileptic drug.

Antique Vehicles “expanded-use”

Antique Vehicles (HB 3256/PA 97-0412) creates a new “expanded-use” category of antique vehicles (vehicles more than 25 years old).  While regular antique vehicles are generally limited to driving to and from car shows when using state highways, the expanded-use vehicles have unrestricted use of the highways from April 1 through Oct. 31. The owner must pay appropriate registration and renewal fees and also pay the $45 per year fee for expanded-use antique vehicle registration.

Brand Name Prescriptions

The Brand Name Prescriptions (SB 2046/PA 97-0426) authorizes HFS to reimburse the dispensing of a 90 day supply of a brand name drug when it is a cost effective, non-narcotic maintenance medication. This bill will also authorize the 90 day supply for brand name drugs.

Cancer Insurance Coverage

The Cancer Insurance Coverage (HB 1191/PA 0091) mandates that routine patient medical care must be provided to patients participating in qualified clinical cancer trials, if the patient’s policy would cover that routine medical care if they were not enrolled in the clinical trial.

Child Abuse Reporting

The Child Abuse Reporting (HB 2093/PA 97-0254)/(SB 1950) changes the legislation to reflect the current criminal penalty for making a false report of child abuse to DCFS, and updates the required posted warning to reflect that a false report is a Class 4 felony violation.

Condo Association Court Cost Recovery

The Condo Association Court Cost Recovery (SB 1972/PA 97-0535) allows a condo association to recover court costs incurred by the association during an action to enforce collection, rather than the association’s costs of collection.

Co-Payment Scale

The Co-Payment Scale (SB 1236/PA 97-0422) bases child-care co-payments for families who receive child care services or public assistance on family size and income, not on the number of children in care or the amount of services used. It sets a sliding scale for co-payments, reflecting a lower percentage of income for the poorest families, and a co-payment that gradually increase as family income increases.

Copyright Restrictions

The Copyright Restrictions (SB 2040/PA 97-0538) prohibits the unlawful use of sound recordings, except when accompanying a motion picture or other audiovisual work, that were initially recorded before February 15, 1972. Anything after that date is protected by Federal copyright law and preempts state law.

Healthcare Information

The Healthcare Information (HB 1562/PA 97-0171) requires the Illinois Department of Public Health to make the Hospital Report Card Act available on its Web site. States linked to the Consumer Guide to Health Care and the Hospital Report Card Act on DPH’s Web site must include a brief description of the information available in both. If relevant, DPH must reference the Web pages of the Consumer Guide to Health Care and the Hospital Report Card Act when it creates new or updates existing consumer fact sheets or materials for the purpose of educating the Illinois health care consumer.

Large Truck Speed Limit

The Large Truck Speed Limit (SB 1913/PA 97-0202) extends the uniform speed limit that currently exists for Interstate highways to include four-lane divided highways and provides that, outside of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties, the speed limit for trucks is uniform with cars, or 65 mph, on four lane divided highways.

Portable Electronic Insurance

The Portable Electronic Insurance (HB 1284/PA 97-0366) creates a new “limited lines” license for retailers that sell insurance to cover the repair or replacement of portable electronic devices, like wireless phones and computers. Anyone who offers or sells the portable electronics insurance must have a limited lines license.

Smoke Detectors in Hotels

The Smoke Detectors (HB 1398/PA 97-0447) requires hotels to be equipped with at least one smoke detector within 15 feet of every room that is used for sleeping purposes.

Social Security Number Protection
The Social Security Number Protection (HB 700/PA 97-0400) provides that IDFPR can only use a person’s social security number on paperwork for initial licensing. After initial licensing a customer tracking number must be issued and used on all paperwork thereafter.

Uninsured Driving

The Uninsured Driving (HB 2267/PA 97-0407) requires mandatory maximum fines for a person who has multiple convictions for driving an uninsured motor vehicle. A $2,500 fine will be imposed, in addition to any jail sentence, for an individual convicted of driving an uninsured vehicle that results in bodily harm to another person, if the defendant has two or more convictions for driving an uninsured vehicle.

Video Cameras in Vehicles

The Video Cameras in Vehicles (HB 3403/PA 97-0499) allows video cameras in cars featuring entertainment or business applications to be displayed on the front monitor so long as the images are not viewable by the driver while operating the vehicle.

Images are not viewable by the driver while operating the vehicle.