SPRINGFIELD – Cracking down on narcotics trafficking across county or state lines is the intent of legislation cosponsored by State Sen. Michael Connelly (R-Naperville) to address the growing heroin problem plaguing many suburban communities.
Senate Bill 3469 will allow a judge to consider as a factor in sentencing, a defendant’s transportation of controlled substances from one Illinois county to another, or from another state into Illinois.
“The legislation is an initiative of DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin to crack down on the source of heroin that has resulted in so many overdose deaths in suburban communities. The drugs are not originating in the collar counties; rather, they are coming in from Cook County,” Connelly said. “This legislation targets the dealers who are bringing narcotics from Chicago into our communities and selling them to our young people.”
A Young Adults Heroin Use Task Force created in 2013 to study the problem of heroin abuse has met several times in recent months and is working to implement changes to the law to protect young people.
Passed by a 57-0 vote of the Senate on April 9, Senate Bill 3469 now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
