Residents are reminded that the Illinois state law that will prohibit driving using a hand-held cell phone goes into effect on January 1, 2014. This practice is already against the law in Illinois construction and school zones. Last summer with road safety in mind, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed two new cell phone use laws aimed at reducing the number of accidents caused by distracted drivers. The first, with penalties beginning at $75, prohibits the use of all hand-held mobile phones while driving on Illinois roads. The second new law increases the penalties where any use of an electronic device while driving is the cause of an accident.