AMPERSAND/Bad Boys (and Girls) Having No Fun in Virginia

Photo by John Arundel Gov. Tim Kaine is making it more difficult in Virginia for smokers in restaurants to light up and speedy moped-ists and bourbon-sodden drivers to run you off the road.

It's officially no fun to be a Virginian anymore. That is, if you're a low-level miscrent.
 
The state which calls itself "Virginia is for Lovers" could now be renamed "Virginia May be for Lovers, But We're Against Restaurant Smokers, Texters While Driving, Sextexters Anytime, High School Truants, Fast Mop-eders, Automatic Dialers and Pit Bullyers."
 
Actually, well, gee, most of these new laws which took effect July 1 make a ton of good sense. That is, if you want to live longer and not get chewed up alive by a pit bull or run over by a drunk driver. Or moped.
 
Under the new laws which just took effect, you officially may and may not do the following things:

• Smoking at indoors restaurants and bars is now prohibited. A ‘no smoking’ sign is required by law and a $25 fine will be applied for offenders.

• Voters at the polls are now allowed to where political apparel such as buttons and t-shirts

• Texting while driving has been banned. $20 fine for first time offenders and $50 for successive offenses.

• A teen that misses 10 consecutive days of school could have their license suspended by the courts.

• Two new laws about drunk driving: one extends the amount of time ignition interlocks are installed for second time offenders of DUIs the other makes it a misdemeanor to be driving without the required ignition interlock. Offenders that are convicted will also lose their license for a year.

• Mopeds, scooters and other motorized vehicles under this law that have top speed of 35 mph will no longer be allowed on the highway. Offenders face $50 dollar fine.

• New specialty license plates are now available, such plates exist for participants in Operation Enduring Freedom and supporters of Choose Life Virginia Fund.

• Persons are now exempt from wearing blaze orange while hunting.

• Businesses cannot use automatic dialing announcing device to make a commercial telephone solicitation unless he/she has authorized the message or if a live operator who gets consent before delivering the message precedes the message.

• Stores are no longer allowed to sell novelty cigarette lighters to minors. A concern was brought up because some of them looked like toys.

• Animal owners are now responsible actual damages caused by their pet. If deemed dangerous, a court can force the owner of the pet to pay restitution to the person that was caused harm or whose animal was caused harm.
  

Make sense? Now go and stay out of trouble.

More laws can be viewed in better detail at http://dls.state.va.us/PUBS/IDC/IDC09.pdf