Although Washington can't seem to get its act together regarding new regulations before year's end, a whole slew of new state laws are ready to go into effect throughout the country New Year’s Day.
Among the new regulations to take affect here in Connecticut after the stroke of midnight are: legalized pallative use of marijuana for patients suffering from cancer, AIDS/HIV, and Parkinson’s Disease, etc.; Greater court support and social services for victims of domestic violence and abuse; Rules regarding jury duty for breastfeeding mothers; A law requiring all health care institutions caring for newborns to test them for critical heart disease (unless parents object on religious grounds); And the prohibition of selling any jewelry for children that contains cadium (a well-known carcinogen).
For those living elsewhere, it will now be legal for same sex couples to wed in Maine, while New York is banning the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors. In addition, plastic bottles will now be considered contraband in Concord, MA, while cat lovers will not be allowed to keep more than four felines in their homes in Wellington, KS. There will also be stiffer penalties for releasing feral pigs into the wild in Kentucky.
As of tomorrow morning it will be illegal to sell or distribute shark fins in Illinois. And while Illinois will also impose a $1,000 fine on anyone who pops a wheeling while speeding on a motorcycle, they will now permit motorcyclists to run red lights without penalty provided the traffic is clear in all areas except cities with 2 million or more people.
Meanwhile, one of 800 new laws going to effect in California will require all computerized cars to have a human passenger present when on the road. (Sorry about that KITT).
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