OMG! TTYL! I Can't Text and Drive Anymore!

Effective January 1, 2010, it will be come illegal in the state of Illinois to compose, send or read an "Electronic Message" while operating a vehicle.  To make things easier to read, I'm just going to refer to the composing, sending or reading an Electronic Message as "texting."  The law is named Public Act 096-0130.  An Electronic Message includes, but is not limited to, electronic mail, a text message, an instant message, or a command or request to access an Internet site.  It does appear that the Act provides for a few allowances:

• A law enforcement officer or operator of an emergency vehicle can text so long as it is regarding the performance of his or her official duties.
• One may text for the sole purpose of reporting an emergency situation and for continued communication during the emergency situation. 
• One may text using their hands-free device or voice-activated mode in their car. 
• A commercial driver who reads a message on a permanently installed communication device designed for commercial vehicles, so long as the device is within the appropriate size limits. 
• One may text while parked on the shoulder of a roadway. 
• One may text while in neutral or park while in traffic.   

Additionally, Illinois lawmakers created Public Act 096-0131 to state that no one may operate a vehicle and use a cell phone in a school zone or on a highway in a construction or maintenance speed zone.  There are some allowances when a cell phone can be used, like emergency situations and with hands-free devices.

Not sure about you, but ST&D (Stop Texting & Driving) is going to be a hard one for me although I know it's the safer choice!  Texting is my preferred method of communicating.  I only call when I need to or when I've had too much coffee and can't stop talking.  What about you?