New laws take effect in Virginia

     Laws passed in the last session, ended February 28, 2009, of Virginia's General Assembly take effect on July1. This is the default date for most of those laws. Other laws taking effect at other times will state the effective date in their text.
     Hundreds of laws go into effect today, some of the more interesting follow here.
Tobacco use
     As a state with a rich history of producing tobacco Virginia tends to be more amenable to tobacco use than other states. Still there are restrictions. A somewhat alarming one to many Virginians is the new Indoor Clean Air Act. The act prohibits smoking in restaurants. There are numerous exemptions such as for separately structured and vented areas.
     Another law sets the maximum fine for selling a "novelty" lighter to a minor at $100.
Cell phone and other technology use
     Text messaging while driving is prohibited. And while the law doesn't specifically mention it you probably shouldn't play chess while driving either. 
     The Board of Education is required to set standards and policies on bullying and harrassment by electronic means, that would include by cell phone and other electronic means like regular internet access.
     A new law requires a district court in any pre-trial criminal proceeding to determine bail or representation by counsel to use two-way electronic video and audio communication if available and it would otherwise require the transportation of a person from outside the jurisdiction of the court.
Vehicle Safety Inspections
     Though most states have done away with the requirement for vehicle safety inspections, Virginia does not appear likely to do that any time soon. The requirements for those inspections go back to the beginning of the federal highway system and the conditions for participation in it. Without further federal pressure these days most states quit requiring the safety inspections. A bill introduced in Virginia in 2008 would have changed the time between required inspections from one year to two. It failed in 2008 and raised little discussion in 2009.
     Certain high population density areas are required by federal law to take regular emissions tests of vehicles, but that does not include other safety tests. A problem with the more extensive safety tests has been and will likely continue to be, even in Virginia, the cost of the inspection. It is far lower than a mechanic is typically paid for that amount of time and trouble. Although newer vehicles are better at reporting their own problems through advanced sensing devices, the main reason given for ending the vehicle safety inspections has been that the data to support any continuing need is inconclusive. Less likely a cause perhaps are the reports of inspectors abusing their authority and requiring expensive work that is not really necessary. There are only a few instances where the guidelines are vague enough for such abuse and there is typically the option of going to another inspector.
     The requirement for a vehicle safety inspection is still every year in Virginia.