California Laws that went into effect Jan 1

[slamhead]

Minimum wage: Rises to 8$ an hour. Puts California in as the highest minimum wage in the country.

Smoking: Smoking is banned in automobiles where minors are present. The third state to implement such a measure.

Gift Cards cash back: Businesses are now required to give cash back on gift cards below $10.00. Law protects people who just threw them away before.

HIV Testing: patients are no longer required to fill out a consent form before being tested for HIV.

Citizenship: California cities and counties are now forbidden from passing any laws that would require landlords to inquire about the citizenship or immigration status of a current or potential tenants. On a side note: In our city landlords have no right to limit the number of people living in one of their rentals. Our city tried to limit the number of adults to 8 people per one bedroom to curb house packing by illegals but it was ruled unconstitutional.

On the bright side you can now buy products made from Kangaroo leather.

[Paul4Prez]

Wasn't there also a ban on using a cell phone while driving that went into effect today?

[tsetsefly]

the peoples republic of california!

[slamhead]

Wasn't there also a ban on using a cell phone while driving that went into effect today?

Your right:

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2006/09/california_bans.html

[Paulitician]

Wasn't there also a ban on using a cell phone while driving that went into effect today?
That is not until July, as that blog points out.

[yongrel]

lovely

[Rocket80]

Not surprisingly, I'm againts all of those. And that cell phone driving I think has been pushed back to July 08 but I have my doubts it will ever go into effect. And even if it did, it will not be a violation that warrants getting pulled over...it has to be like..a secondary violation where they pull you over for another reason and then give u a second ticket.

Actually the smoking with kids in the car law is like that...you have to get pulled over for another offense.

[Ron LOL]

The smoking, gift card, and cell phone laws are most welcome...at least, I welcome them. They're examples of great state laws that would make really crappy federal laws.

Smoking in a car with minors is child abuse IMO. While a better solution to the gift card issue might be a free market "we won't buy your stupid gift cards" protest, I think this is a reasonable consumer protection measure. And the cell phone thing, well, let me just say it's about time. Nine times out of ten when I get cut off, it's a driver using a cell phone.

[Mental Dribble]

I definitely support the smoking law, I mean, you have a right to give a child cancer?

YEA RIGHT

[free.alive]

Isn't the state animal the BEAR?!?!?!?!?!

[Ron LOL]

Isn't the state animal the BEAR?!?!?!?!?!

What, are you saying we're on notice? :)

[seapilot]

Those type of Laws passed are for less intelligent people that really wont follow those laws anyway.

[free.alive]

Maybe they just made smoking with a kid in the car gave the cops the right to pull you over, tell you your an asshole, give you a lecture, make you read some health statistics, detain you at the side of the road for at least 10 minutes (to deter those running late from smoking while with their kids) and then they have to let you go. They can't fine you, do an identity or background check and can't even give you a ticket for another moving violation. You just get delayed and bitched at.

Oh wait, that is also insane - if they can dictate whether you can or can't smoke in your private property that is your car, will the laws preventing smokers from having children or allowing searches into your home to see if you smoke in the presence of your children be passed next year?

[free.alive]

There's a bear in the woods...

[slamhead]

The smoking, gift card, and cell phone laws are most welcome...at least, I welcome them. They're examples of great state laws that would make really crappy federal laws.

Smoking in a car with minors is child abuse IMO. While a better solution to the gift card issue might be a free market "we won't buy your stupid gift cards" protest, I think this is a reasonable consumer protection measure. And the cell phone thing, well, let me just say it's about time. Nine times out of ten when I get cut off, it's a driver using a cell phone.

Just more bad laws by government trying to control moral behavior is my sense of things.

[KMA-NWO]

I definitely support the smoking law, I mean, you have a right to give a child cancer?

YEA RIGHT

Just make sure your child learns to eat foods high in vitamin B17 and he'll never have cancer problems, guaranteed!

[jointhefightforfreedom]

as long as you obey the traffic laws speeding ect..
you shouldn't be dictated what else you can do in your own property

Including wearing a seatbelt!

[piotr1]

Maybe they just made smoking with a kid in the car gave the cops the right to pull you over, tell you your an asshole, give you a lecture, make you read some health statistics, detain you at the side of the road for at least 10 minutes (to deter those running late from smoking while with their kids) and then they have to let you go. They can't fine you, do an identity or background check and can't even give you a ticket for another moving violation. You just get delayed and bitched at.

Oh wait, that is also insane - if they can dictate whether you can or can't smoke in your private property that is your car, will the laws preventing smokers from having children or allowing searches into your home to see if you smoke in the presence of your children be passed next year?

Good point...

Even though i support the idea, i think your right when you say it will lead to other laws that would go too far.

GIVE THEM AN INCH AND THEY WILL TAKE A MILE!

[Eric23]

Agree with the phone law. I've been in an accident with someone who was at fault when they were on their phone as has a brother of mine. Minimum wage raise is rather useless considering the cost of living.

[RonPaulCult]

I'm for the smoking law - I'm against the gift card law (and against my friends and family buying me gift cards) and I think you should be allowed to talk on the phone while driving although hands free laws aren't so bad.

[KMA-NWO]

as long as you obey the traffic laws speeding ect..
you shouldn't be dictated what else you can do in your own property

Including wearing a seatbelt!

I'm even against the idea of stealing one's property/time (in the form of fiat money) for wanting to go faster on a road with a speed limit too low (especially if there isn't a soul on the road). I don't like the idea of being raped for not completely stopping at a 4 way intersection where there is obviously no other cars present!

Of course, driving code should be there as a punitive measure when actual damages occur (not figurative, like 'speeding') between two parties.

Overall, there needs to be a huge decline in behavioral statutes before one could taste liberty without a bully government out to get you!

[JMO]

You can still use a cell phone in the car, it just has to be a hands off cell phone. You can also use a hands on cell phone in the car as long as you pull over. I think this is a good law.

[Ron LOL]

I think you should be allowed to talk on the phone while driving although hands free laws aren't so bad.

Oh, is it a wholesale phone ban? If so, I think that might be a little much. I'm surprised I haven't heard of manufacturers of Bluetooth headsets filing suit against the state :D

Edit: just read post above me.

[slamhead]

I'm even against the idea of stealing one's property/time (in the form of fiat money) for wanting to go faster on a road with a speed limit too low (especially if there isn't a soul on the road). I don't like the idea of being raped for not completely stopping at a 4 way intersection where there is obviously no other cars present!

Of course, driving code should be there as a punitive measure when actual damages occur (not figurative, like 'speeding') between two parties.

Overall, there needs to be a huge decline in behavioral statutes before one could taste liberty without a bully government out to get you!

Totally agree. In my town not only are the speed limits set too low but around every corner there is one of those nagometers flashing your speed telling people to slow down. If it is not the nagometer it is a motorcycle cop with a radar. This is coming from someone who has never had a moving violation and I am 42.

[Goldwater Conservative]

The cell phone law makes sense to me, since the roads are public.

I think smoking issues like that should be handled on a case-by-case basis in the courts.

Everything else seems crazy to me, but they don't call it the Left Coast for nothing.

[Ron LOL]

I'm even against the idea of stealing one's property/time (in the form of fiat money) for wanting to go faster on a road with a speed limit too low (especially if there isn't a soul on the road). I don't like the idea of being raped for not completely stopping at a 4 way intersection where there is obviously no other cars present!

Of course, driving code should be there as a punitive measure when actual damages occur (not figurative, like 'speeding') between two parties.

Overall, there needs to be a huge decline in behavioral statutes before one could taste liberty without a bully government out to get you!

What ever happened to all the fairytales about the no speed limit thing in Montana leading to fewer accidents? I never bothered to actually research that...but it would be an interesting argument for opening up our roads. Here in San Diego, the posted speed limit on the highway is 65, but the average speed is closer to 80.

[Gordon]

Citizenship: California cities and counties are now forbidden from passing any laws that would require landlords to inquire about the citizenship or immigration status of a current or potential tenants. On a side note: In our city landlords have no right to limit the number of people living in one of their rentals. Our city tried to limit the number of adults to 8 people per one bedroom to curb house packing by illegals but it was ruled unconstitutional.


This is really too bad that socialism has been implimented and California's citizens have to suffer from overcrowding and crime because of these illegals.

I never got to vote on this so apparently it was done in the socialist legislature. All of those losers should be punted out of office. Or at least the ones who voted for this.

Btw, does any have a list of those people?

[Gordon]

Wasn't there also a ban on using a cell phone while driving that went into effect today?

I heared that as well? What a stupid, ridiculous and infringing law. This will just be another excuse for police to give tickets. Wasting peoples and the polices' time

[Gordon]

Not surprisingly, I'm againts all of those. And that cell phone driving I think has been pushed back to July 08 but I have my doubts it will ever go into effect. And even if it did, it will not be a violation that warrants getting pulled over...it has to be like..a secondary violation where they pull you over for another reason and then give u a second ticket.
.


That's how it starts, then it changes. That's how all bad laws start out.

[Gordon]

Agree with the phone law. I've been in an accident with someone who was at fault when they were on their phone as has a brother of mine. Minimum wage raise is rather useless considering the cost of living.

What would be an minimum wage amount that would be up to standards today?

$20.00 an hour? It depends on the business, right?

[sw33tbabiblu3]

I live in california, and I find the hands-free cell phone law very annoying. What makes it even worse is the fact that the first and second offenses are fines of 20$ and the third is 50$. What a pointless law... I'm against people talking on the phone while driving, but the government telling everyone what is good and bad isn't going to solve the problem. It is going to continue to happen (even boom), when the government makes it illegal. Just like the war on drugs!

[Cigaboo]

I don't think the occasional chat on a cell phone while driving is that dangerous. This is yet another example where we allow ourselves to slowly give up freedom for "safety". It could be argued that reaching for a coke while driving is also dangerous. Or any number of multitasking things you could be doing while driving. I'm against that law.

[Sandy]

Edit, my post was posted twice.

[Sandy]

Sheesh, welcome to the USSR! I'm not surprised the Bear is CA's mascot.

These laws stink, and are about control, not about trying to save kids from lung cancer or trying to reduce accidents....give me a break. :rolleyes: That's how they sell crappy Orwellian laws, by appealing to emotions and saying 'we are here to help you'. The goal is complete behavior control. Just wait until they install speakers on sidewalks, and if someone drops something you hear "Pick that up and put it in the trash or we will give you a ticket!"

One thing, ya one thing, leads to another! It's incremental. Everyone really needs to read the books 1984, Brave New World, and Fahrenheit 451.

[driller80545]

I think that if you are going to protect minors from cigarette smoke, you must also ban them from entering LA, as the yellow air hovering over the city on some days is just as bad if not worse.

[Cigaboo]

That's the thing, that laws done in the name of safety are such a slippery slope, one of the main rationalizations for the corrosion of civil liberties.

[ChooseLiberty]

Which court ruled it unconstitutional?




Citizenship: California cities and counties are now forbidden from passing any laws that would require landlords to inquire about the citizenship or immigration status of a current or potential tenants. On a side note: In our city landlords have no right to limit the number of people living in one of their rentals. Our city tried to limit the number of adults to 8 people per one bedroom to curb house packing by illegals but it was ruled unconstitutional.