A new year means new laws! Any interesting new laws from your state?

[freckles and boo]

Illinois becomes the 22 state to ban smoking in public places. Here is the full list

http://www.legalrecord.net/new-illinois-laws-in-2008.html

One of the more interesting laws...
Protecting Pets (HB 9/P.A. 95-0009) – Allows pets to be included in an order of protection for abused individuals, because animals are occasionally used as a way to intimidate or retaliate against victims of abuse.

 

[babieemelly]

I love that pet law. I'm not sure if NY has a similar one, but I think all states should have a law defending pets. It's considered morally wrong to abuse animals and pets, but it should also be legally punished. It's such a disgusting thing to do.

And the smoking one is a great one too. We've had that in NY for a while!

 

[wtpntigger2]

Illinois becomes the 22 state to ban smoking in public places.

Can you tell I am happy about this?

 

[freckles and boo]

Can you tell I am happy about this?

Me, too.

 

[LisaZee]

We are in Illinois, and my mom (who smokes) was threatening to never to leave the house again because she will no longer be able to smoke in public. When I called her at midnight to wish her a happy new year, I told her "Smoke 'em if ya got 'em!" She has now threatened to come over and smoke all 14 cartons currently in her house over here at MY house. The smoke I don't mind. That's just a little too much "together time" with mom!

 

[ZachnElli]

The only ones I know about here are all about making it tough on newly licensed teenage drivers. No texting or cell phone calls (this is still ok for adults), only 1 passenger that's not a relative (no more carloads of friends), must have a learning permit for 6 months (they use to be able to skip getting this and just get a license at 16 years) and they have to have 50 recorded driving hours, 10 of those at night. Don't know how they are recording those hours. Sounds good to me! Teens around here aren't very happy about it though!

 

[ZachnElli]

The only ones I know about here are all about making it tough on newly licensed teenage drivers. No texting or cell phone calls (this is still ok for adults), only 1 passenger that's not a relative (no more carloads of friends), must have a learning permit for 6 months (they use to be able to skip getting this and just get a license at 16 years) and they have to have 50 recorded driving hours, 10 of those at night. Don't know how they are recording those hours. Sounds good to me! Teens around here aren't very happy about it though!

 

[LisaNJ25]

The only ones I know about here are all about making it tough on newly licensed teenage drivers. No texting or cell phone calls (this is still ok for adults), only 1 passenger that's not a relative (no more carloads of friends), must have a learning permit for 6 months (they use to be able to skip getting this and just get a license at 16 years) and they have to have 50 recorded driving hours, 10 of those at night. Don't know how they are recording those hours. Sounds good to me! Teens around here aren't very happy about it though!

sounds like nj's laws.. although thankfully its 17 for a license... thats its only a provisional license till your 18.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

The only one getting any press in NH is civil unions. I have no idea if we actually have any others.

 

[shellybaxter]

California has a few new laws of interest (probalby a lot more than a few - LOL)

Smoking in cars with children under 17 is now illegal. The police officers can't stop you for doing so, but they can ticket you if they stop you for something else.

Cell phones can't be used in vehicles without a hand free device.

 

[Honu]

Also in California, consumers now have a right to cash in any unused or partially used gift cards when their value dips below $10.

All cell phone use is prohibited for drivers under 18.

Minimum wage rises to $8 today.

And the strangest prohibits an employer from requiring an employee to have a radio frequency identification device, commonly known as RFID, implanted under their skin. WTH do the people concerned about this work?

 

[liamsaunt]

Civil unions legalized in New Hampshire

Liquor licenses now available in Aquinnnah (Martha's Vineyard)

Minimum raise goes up in MA

Health insurance is manditory for all residents of MA.

That's all I am aware of!

 

[aprilvaca04]

In Maine cellphone providers now have to have a place to take back old cellphones to be recycled less to end up in landfills

 

[Kath2003]

Nothing special about New Year but a couple of weeks ago they announced that using a mobile phone whilst driving now carries the threat of a jail sentence...including texting...
Gay civil unions are already legal.
Minimum wage is $12.50 for anyone over 22.
Health insurance isn't necessary; we have socialised healthcare.
Smoking is banned in all public places and workspaces (which includes your car if you're using it for business with anyone other than yourself riding in it).

 

[chell]

Civil unions legalized in New Hampshire

Liquor licenses now available in Aquinnnah (Martha's Vineyard)

Minimum raise goes up in MA

Health insurance is manditory for all residents of MA.

That's all I am aware of!

How does the mandatory health insurance thing work? I'm clueless.

The only thing I know about in NC is that all restaurants and bars must recycle their glass.

 

[eh24fan]

I love the no smoking in public places law we have in Delaware! Today we went over to Maryland for some duckpin bowling and were assaulted by the smoke in the snack bar area. It was horrible. I used to smoke and I can't stand the smell anymore.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

NY:

Deregulation of free Bingo. You no longer need a license to run a free bingo game! I did not know you did before!

Passengers bill of rights for airline passengers. The new law requires airlines to provide food, water, clean toilets and fresh air to passengers stuck on the ground for more than three hours. The airline industry lost a challenge to the law in court this month. The law also creates an Office of Airline Consumer Advocate to help address passenger complaints. Violations could cost an airline $1,000 per passenger. The law followed a series of delays last winter John F. Kennedy International Airport left some passengers stranded on the tarmac for more than 10 hours with no food or water, overflowing toilets and no air conditioning.

Measures to improve the oversight of the mortgage industry. The law sets standards to better track unscrupulous individuals who move from company to company, leaving borrowers with unaffordable mortgages.

Standards for the licensing and certification of real estate appraisers. The measure also requires continuing education of these professionals who establish the value of homes and greatly affect how much a prospective homeowner must borrow.

And a tax rebate of some sort. They could just...oh, I don't know...lower them???

 

[Katie]

In Illinois, alot of new teenage driving laws but the one that I don't like is the new curfew law.

Sunday thru Thursday curfew is 10:00 pm
Friday and Saturday curfew is 11:00 pm.

Any driver under 18 their license is invalid after those times.

So, no more 9:00 movies on the weekend, no more midnight bowling( which starts at 930).

You can not even go sit at a friends house and drive home later..because of these laws.

I think the government has gone too far on this one.

 

[Kath2003]

Oh I got one, they're not allowed to show commercials for high-fat, high-sugar foods and drinks during TV shows which have an above average percentage of under-16 viewers. Previously this was only for children's shows but they've extended it. People are still lobbying to have it extended to 9pm.

 

[Ticket Man]

Oh I got one, they're not allowed to show commercials for high-fat, high-sugar foods and drinks during TV shows which have an above average percentage of under-16 viewers. Previously this was only for children's shows but they've extended it. People are still lobbying to have it extended to 9pm.

Sounds like the UK is right there with the US in wanting to control every aspect of the lives of private citizens lives! Give me a break.