Over 100 New Laws Take Effect January 1st

Over 150 new laws take effect January 1^st in Illinois.  Some of them may have you scratching your head.

For instance there’s a new bill that allows ambulances to not have to pay tolls when responding to an emergency.  Another new law prohibits sex offenders being involved in holiday events with kids such as handing out candy during Halloween, or working as Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny.

While you don’t get paid much, a new law January 1^st allows you to waive jury payments.  If you go out on a sailboat in Illinois, everyone on the sailboat must now be wearing life jackets according to a new law.

Last but certainly not least, Illinois lawmakers passed a law making it illegal to possess, sell, or trade a shark fin.