New Laws Ring in the New Year

With every new year comes a slew of new laws that take effect for te coming year. And 2009 was no different as 775 new laws went into effect when the clock struck midnight on January 1.

The laws address an eclectic mix: text-messaging while driving is illegal, school cafeterias and vending machines cannot offer meals and snacks laden with trans fats starting July 1, school administrators have more authority to discipline students who engage in cyberbullying – the use of cell phones or computer networking sites to harass other students, it will cost $50 to obtain a 30-day extension to pass the state's smog check if a vehicle flunks the first time, new standards of care are in place for animals sold in pet stores, such as cage cleaning.

But wait, there's more: Emergency medical technicians must undergo criminal background checks, marriage license forms will enable a man to take his wife's name, small roadside fruit stands can now legally sell homemade jam and other items to consumers, it is now illegal to use Web sites such as MySpace and Craigslist to post messages or photos that intentionally aim to harass or intimidate another person, new cars must carry stickers showing how they rank in terms of pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions on a scale of 1 to 10.

Read more about the new California laws taking effect in 2009 in a Union-Tribune article.