—Fork it over: Drivers' license fees in Illinois have tripled from $10 to $30. It's the first increase in fees since 1983. However, that's not the only cost that's going up: According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the cost of the annual registration sticker that goes on license plates will jump from $79 now to $99; duplicate or corrected vehicle-title fees will jump from $65 now to $95; and a registration transfer will increase from $15 to $25. All of the latter changes will take place Jan. 1, 2010.
—Stranger danger: A University of Illinois at Chicago survey has revealed that 20 percent of Chicago taxi drivers have been physically attacked while working, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Moreover, 44 percent of the victims said the assault was accompanied by hostile remarks about their race, ethnicity, religion and/or apparent country of origin. Fayez Khozindar, chairman of the United Taxidrivers Community Council, said, "Cab drivers are targets for ethnic prejudices."
