New distracted driving law is changing th way you talk and drive

Do you know how to make a cell phone call without touching your phone?  You’ll have to learn that if you want to legally drive and while talking starting next Wednesday.  That’s when a state law against distracted driving begins. 

It requires you to use one-touch or voice dialing.  It also forbids you from holding your phone while driving. 

JC Phillips of Illinois Valley Cellular says smart phones allow you to use voice commands to answer, dial and hang up.  And there are Bluetooth devices you can buy for your car isn’t wired for it. He says he uses a device that clips onto his visor and allows him to answer and make calls by speaking.

The people at the store where you bought your cell phone should be able to help you set up voice command if you have it.  Phillips says even basic phones have a speaker phone function or Bluetooth.

You’ll still be able to pullover and make calls and make calls during an emergency.  A ticket for breaking the law will cost you $75.  Texting while driving is already illegal.

You can hear an interview with Phillips by visiting the Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO news page.

Towne Named President Of State’s Attorneys Association

La Salle County State’s Attorney Brian Towne has a new accomplishment for his resume.

Towne has been elected president of the Illinois State’s Attorneys Association by his peers.  As part of being president Towne will lead a committee that reviews state law.  Towne says its a “great honor” and a “tremendous opportunity”.

The Illinois State’s Attorneys Association is a bi-partisan group.

Illinois Flags Lowered For Fallen Deputy

CHICAGO (AP) – Flags are being lowered to half-staff around Illinois in honor of an off-duty Cook County sheriff’s investigator who was killed while trying to stop an armed robbery outside a family Christmas party.

Gov. Pat Quinn’s office ordered U.S. and state flags to be lowered starting at sunrise today in memory of Cuauhtemoc  Estrada. The 50-year-old was shot in the chest last Friday while trying to stop two people from robbing his daughter and her boyfriend in Bellwood.

The flags will remain lowered until sunset Saturday.

Father Accused Of Driving Drunk In Chicago Expressway Crash That Killed His Son

CHICAGO (AP) – A Texas man is in jail facing the idea that he’s blamed for killing his 4-year old son.

A wreck on the Dan Ryan Expressway Sunday killed the preschooler after he was thrown through the back window of a Ford Expedition. The boy wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. His dad, 46-year-old Franklin Jackson is charged with reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence.

Three other children – a 1-year-old, a 2-year-old old and a 3-month old – weren’t injured.

New Classic Hits Station Debuts

If you’re a fan of classic  hits, 103.9 WLPO should be your choice.

As of midnight December 26th, the Christmas music ended and classic hits started. The new Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO will still feature Rod Thorson in the morning from 5:45 until 10. It will also still include local high school sports and Fighting Illini basketball.

In fact you can listen to the Putnam County Panther’s boy’s basketball team in action on WLPO today at 4:50 from the Marseilles Holiday Tournament.

Less Than Week Before New Speed Limit

While you may not want to floor it today, in less than a week speed limits on Illinois interstates will go up to 70.

The governor signed off on the law earlier this year making Illinois the 37th state to have speed limits as high as 70.  State Representative Frank Mautino and State Senator Sue Rezin both voted in favor of upping the speed limit.

Counties around Chicago and St. Louis still will have 65 mile per hour speed limits.  The new signage is expected to go up in the first couple weeks of 2014.

The new speed limit signs and the cost of installing them is around 200 thousand dollars according to IDOT.