[Temslist] FW: New state laws at a glance

[Tidewater EMS Council Listserv]

Below is an article from the Virginian Pilot that summarizes a few new state laws that went into effect on July 1. EMS personnel might also visit www.tidewaterems.org/lis <http://www.tidewaterems.org/lis>  for a overview of EMS-related legislation passed (and not passed) during the 2007 session of Virginia's General Assembly. 
 
New state laws at a glance
The Virginian-Pilot
© July 1, 2007 
Last updated: 9:20 PM


TODAY, a multitude of new laws take effect in Virginia. A complete list of laws can be found at http://legis.state.va.us/. Here are some of the highlights: 

DRIVING

Safety seats. Children under 8 must be in child-restraint seats in a moving car. Take note, because the old law used to be for children younger than 6. You must carry a doctor's note if the child can't comply because of weight or other medical reasons.

Red-light cameras. Virginia Beach will turn on its cameras to catch red-light runners; other cities may do the same. The owners of videotaped cars will be mailed a traffic ticket.

Car registration. Registering your car will cost $10 more a year - $39.50 for passenger vehicles weighing 4,000 pounds or less, $44.50 for those weighing more. The proceeds will help build roads.

Fines. Bad drivers will begin paying heavy fines assessed over three years. The extra money will be used for state transportation projects. Drunken drivers will pay a total of $2,250; reckless and aggressive drivers will pay $1,050; and those who drive with suspended or revoked licenses will pay $750. Anyone who has eight or more demerit points, with at least one point because of an offense after June 30, will be assessed $100 plus $75 for each demerit point in excess of eight.

Cell phones. Drivers under age 18 are forbidden to use their cell phones while driving or face fines and lose their licenses.

Smoking at the gas station. No smoking within 20 feet of a gas pump. You'll face up to a $500 fine, if you don't cause an explosion. If you do cause an explosion, you'll face up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Death penalty. The death penalty will be expanded to include an accessory to murder, not just the triggerman.

Sex offenders. Sex offenders will have to register with local police all e-mail addresses and instant-messaging screen names. Any changes to their information must be reported - either in person or electronically - within 30 minutes. 

Sexual offenses. Adults convicted of sexually violent offenses will be banned from school properties and day care centers during business hours. Exceptions will be granted to offenders who are students, enter the school to vote or have been given permission from a judge. Violators will face up to five years in prison.

LITTERING

The maximum fine for dumping trash in Virginia's waters jumps from $100 to $1,000.

EMINENT DOMAIN

Government can forcibly buy private property only when public interest supersedes private gain. The new law states that the primary purpose of taking someone's land cannot be private financial gain, an increase in the locality's property tax base or to help employment.

HEALTH

Refusing treatment for children. Parents and guardians will have stronger legal protections if they refuse medical treatment for a child with a life-threatening condition. The choice will not be regarded as a refusal to provide necessary care as long as it is made by the parent and the child, who is at least 14 and mature enough to understand the possible consequences.

Child tanning. Anyone under 15 will need parental consent before he or she can visit a tanning salon.

UNEMPLOYMENT

The maximum weekly benefits go up to $363 - a $16 increase.

EDUCATION

Busing. Local school boards may enter monetary agreements to transport students attending private schools.

Family life courses. The state Board of Education is required to include information about dating violence and abusive relationships in family life education courses.

New college grants. Community college students who obtain their associate's degree are now eligible for up to $2,000 in annual grants to help continue their education at a four-year public or private Virginia college or university.

ELECTRIC RATES

New state regulations allow Dominion Virginia Power to seek maximum residential rate increases of 4 percent during each of the next three years. Dominion now is seeking a 3.75 percent hike, which would add about $3.41 to the average monthly residential bill of $90.98.

TAXES AND BUDGET

Buy energy-efficient appliances Oct. 5-8 and you can avoid paying sales tax. The tax holiday applies to certain products with a sales price of up to $2,500 that have been awarded an Energy Star by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The tax exemption includes dishwashers, clothes washers, air conditioners, ceiling fans, compact fluorescent light bulbs, dehumidifiers, programmable thermostats and refrigerators. 



© 2007 HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com 
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