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 Recent revisions to Illinois’ Smoke Detector Act will require
many residents to install new smoke detectors with 10-year sealed batteries by
Jan. 1, 2023.
Illinoisans in violation of the law could risk punitive fines. Under the law,
local governments can fine residents $100 if they fail to comply within 90 days
of receiving a citation, and an additional $100 every 30 days until fines reach
$1,500 or the cited resident installs the new device.
Phil Zaleski, executive director of Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, told the
Illinois News Network that issuance of such fines is uncommon, however.
Enforcement of the law, which is left to local fire departments, largely entails
fire department officials replacing old smoke detectors upon discovery when
responding to emergency calls.
The updated units will cost residents $15, according to the Illinois News
Network, about three times the price of the older 9-volt model. However, Zaleski
said, residents will save around $40 to $50 by avoiding battery replacement
costs. The new units will also come equipped with a “hush button,” which lets
users silence the smoke detector for 15 minutes at a time.
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Homes with hardwired units, or units running on
Wi-Fi or low-powered radio frequencies, are not required to comply
with the revised law. The entire city of Chicago is also exempt,
after reportedly pushing back against the changes.
But changes to safety standards, if truly necessary, should not be
limited to areas of Illinois without the necessary political clout
to push back.
And while well-intentioned, the time and energy state lawmakers
devoted to this measure might have been put to better use elsewhere.
Growth in pension costs have driven Illinoisans’ property tax burden
to among the highest in the nation, punishing homeowners across the
state.
If lawmakers continue to ignore the state’s fiscal woes, Illinoisans
will have another cause for alarm.
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