Gov. Blagojevich signs new laws to fight meth manufacturing in Illinois   

Law establishes a meth manufacturer registry to keep communities safer

[JUNE 5, 2006]  SPRINGFIELD -- In an effort to curb the methamphetamine production that continues to ravage Illinois communities, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich signed legislation Sunday that will create a meth manufacturing registry. Senate Bill 2915, sponsored by state Sen. William R. Haine, D-Alton, and state Rep. Roger Eddy, R-Hutsonville, gives law enforcement another tool to protect Illinois families and farmers.

"Methamphetamine is one of the most addictive and dangerous drugs on the streets," Blagojevich said. "Meth can destroy not only the lives of users, but their families and neighbors too. We need to do everything possible to put a stop to the scourge of meth."

Methamphetamine, or meth, is a powerful stimulant that affects the central nervous system and is derived from ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, commonly used in cold medicine. Statistics show that meth is a growing problem in Illinois and other states. In 1997, law enforcement seized 24 meth labs. By 2005, that number had grown to 973. The drug has quickly become the most dangerous and perplexing problem for law enforcement, particularly in central and southern Illinois.

In the new registry, the name, date of birth, offense, conviction date and county where the offense took place will be posted for those who are convicted of meth manufacturing. The Illinois State Police can add other information but cannot include the offender's Social Security number. The new law requires the Illinois State Police to create the registry, have a link on the agency's Web page and make it available to the general public and law enforcement.

"These new laws support our continuing efforts to put an end to methamphetamine usage," said Illinois State Police Director Larry G. Trent. "Every day, police officers throughout Illinois attack a myriad of problems caused by methamphetamine. In an ongoing effort to protect our law-abiding citizens, the legislature and governor have given law enforcement additional tools in the battle against the most sinister drug I have ever seen."

"Methamphetamine has posed so many dangers to people," said Haine, who sponsored the legislation in the Senate. "It is not only damaging to the user, but the communities surrounding it. This registry will help provide Illinois residents a list of criminals that have produced meth."

"This problem is not only statewide, but is growing rapidly throughout the country," said House sponsor Eddy. "The new website will allow local residents to check their neighborhoods. We cannot win the fight without their help."

The governor signed three other pieces of legislation Sunday that will protect communities from the ravages of meth production.

• Penalties for trafficking meth or meth ingredients: Senate Bill 2391, also sponsored by Haine, along with Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Charleston, deals with people who try to sell, deliver or make meth by traveling to other states to acquire meth or ingredients to make meth. The new offense of meth trafficking for individuals who knowingly bring methamphetamine or its precursors or cause methamphetamine or its precursors to be brought into Illinois with the intent to make, deliver or sell meth carries a penalty of no less than double the minimum and double the maximum sentence for selling meth or possessing its precursors with the intent to make meth, which is based on the quantity involved. This law also makes changes to the Methamphetamine Precursor Control Act.

• Increasing the penalty for ID theft to purchase meth ingredients: Since Illinois now requires people who buy pseudoephedrine (found in cold medicines) to show ID and sign a log, House Bill 4297 will help address identity theft crimes committed by people trying to avoid detection while purchasing meth ingredients. Sponsored by Sen. Carol Ronen, D-Chicago, and Rep. Daniel Beiser, D-East Alton, House Bill 4297 makes it a Class 2 felony for a first offense and a Class 1 felony for a second or subsequent offense if a person uses someone else's identification to buy ingredients that are intended to be used to make meth. A Class 2 felony usually results in a three- to seven-year prison sentence, and a Class 1 felony is usually four to 15 years. According to Illinois State Police, meth users and makers frequently commit identity theft offenses.

• Reporting suspicious burns: Meth labs are extremely explosive and, due to the chemicals involved, can cause suspicious burns on those involved with meth manufacturing. House Bill 5348, sponsored by Haine and Rep. Donald Moffitt, R-Galesburg, allows hospitals to report suspicious burn injuries, in a timely manner as soon as treatment permits, to a toll-free line at the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The report, which contains the victim's name, address and the particulars of the injury, would allow the fire marshal's office to share information with local law enforcement as needed for criminal investigations and prosecutions.

Senate Bill 2915 and Senate Bill 2391 are effective immediately. House Bill 4297 and House Bill 5348 go into effect on Jan. 1, 2007.

[News release from the governor's office]

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