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Fairfax Underground
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Virginians have a new slew of laws on the book
Posted by:
In the News...
()
Date: July 07, 2011 01:01PM
Virginians have a new slew of laws on the book
Saturday, Jul. 2 by By Amanda Iacone, Virginia Statehouse News
http://www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/virginians_have_a_new_slew_of_laws_on_the_book898/
RICHMOND — In 45 days, legislators passed more than 890 bills during this year’s General Assembly session.
Their efforts will allow police to crack down on Internet gambling, entice more sales of Virginia wine and give localities an option to pay for local road improvements. Most Virginia laws took effect July 1.
Gov. Bob McDonnell’s $4 billion transportation package was among his top achievements. While the transportation omnibus bill allows the state to borrow billions over the next three years, it also created an infrastructure bank to help localities access money.
The bank will act as a revolving loan fund — a system the state uses to pay for water and sewer improvements — at low interest rates. Businesses also can apply for the funds, if the money goes toward public infrastructure projects like toll roads.
Lawmakers tussled over how to fund the infrastructure bank, because the governor wanted the $150 million to come from the state’s general fund, which pays for education, public safety and social services.
Democrats argued that the governor wanted to rob public education to pay for roads. In the end, the Legislature agreed to provide about $30 million.
McDonnell has pledged to add as much as $1 billion to the fund over the next three years. He said June 30 that the bank is aimed at secondary road improvements.
“What we’ve done this year is really going to help with secondary roads,” McDonnell said of his overall transportation package.
But state Sen. Dave Marsden, (D-Fairfax), who supported the transportation program, said he hopes the governor finds the funding to address the state’s long-term transportation needs this upcoming session.
“We have significant problems … in transportation, both maintenance and construction costs,” Marsden said.
Underage drinking and driving
Teens now face steeper penalties if they are found guilty of drinking and driving.
They will be charged with a class 1 misdemeanor and risk losing their driver’s license for a full year, if convicted. Previously, teens were charged with a class 2 misdemeanor and a six-month suspension on their license.
Teens also will have to perform community service or a pay a fine as part of any sentence, McDonnell said during a bill signing ceremony June 30.
“Drunk driving is preventable. The more you educate, the tougher laws that you’ve got the better you can get, especially to those young people who make a lot of bad decisions about getting behind the wheel, the more you can prevent them,” McDonnell said.
The change was needed not just to get teens’ attention but because of an inequity in the law, said state Del. Bill Janis, (R-Henrico).
Judges approached lawmakers because teens caught possessing alcohol illegally also faced jail time — a tougher penalty than for those convicted of drinking and driving under the influence of alcohol, Janis said.
Internet cafes
Lawmakers expanded the definition of illegal gambling to respond to a rash of illegal gaming businesses popping up statewide.
Businesses would sell phone cards or other tokens to customers who could redeem the cards for time on a gambling terminal.
Internet casino businesses were using a loophole in the state law that said sweepstakes are not gambling.
“You realize this is a ruse when you see all the phone cards on the floor,” said state Del. Glenn Oder, (R-Newport News). “They all have minutes on them, but it appears they have no worth.”
Search warrants
The public and the media will have to wait several days before viewing search warrants.
Now, the affidavits, which police use to lay out their probable cause for a search, will remain sealed for 15 days after they are approved or until they are served.
Circuit court clerks are charged with keeping a record and searchable index of search warrants, so they are accessible to the public.
Winery credits
Several new provisions become laws that legislators said will help Virginia’s growing wine industry.
One law change will eliminate a double excise tax on Virginia wine shipped out of state. Until now, Virginia wine was taxed in Virginia and again in the state where it was shipped, an extra layer of taxation that few states still have.
Eliminating the double tax is expected to help Virginia wineries be more competitive, lawmakers said.
And Virginia wineries now can apply for a tax credit aimed at encouraging more grape production and preventing good farmland from being paved over by development.
The 25 percent tax credit can go toward starting or expanding a winery or vineyard.
Grapes are the 20th top commodity in the state, and Virginia is the fifth largest producer of wine in the country. Vineyards occupy about 3,000 acres statewide.
Saturday, Jul. 2 by By Amanda Iacone, Virginia Statehouse News
http://www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/virginians_have_a_new_slew_of_laws_on_the_book898/
RICHMOND — In 45 days, legislators passed more than 890 bills during this year’s General Assembly session.
Their efforts will allow police to crack down on Internet gambling, entice more sales of Virginia wine and give localities an option to pay for local road improvements. Most Virginia laws took effect July 1.
Gov. Bob McDonnell’s $4 billion transportation package was among his top achievements. While the transportation omnibus bill allows the state to borrow billions over the next three years, it also created an infrastructure bank to help localities access money.
The bank will act as a revolving loan fund — a system the state uses to pay for water and sewer improvements — at low interest rates. Businesses also can apply for the funds, if the money goes toward public infrastructure projects like toll roads.
Lawmakers tussled over how to fund the infrastructure bank, because the governor wanted the $150 million to come from the state’s general fund, which pays for education, public safety and social services.
Democrats argued that the governor wanted to rob public education to pay for roads. In the end, the Legislature agreed to provide about $30 million.
McDonnell has pledged to add as much as $1 billion to the fund over the next three years. He said June 30 that the bank is aimed at secondary road improvements.
“What we’ve done this year is really going to help with secondary roads,” McDonnell said of his overall transportation package.
But state Sen. Dave Marsden, (D-Fairfax), who supported the transportation program, said he hopes the governor finds the funding to address the state’s long-term transportation needs this upcoming session.
“We have significant problems … in transportation, both maintenance and construction costs,” Marsden said.
Underage drinking and driving
Teens now face steeper penalties if they are found guilty of drinking and driving.
They will be charged with a class 1 misdemeanor and risk losing their driver’s license for a full year, if convicted. Previously, teens were charged with a class 2 misdemeanor and a six-month suspension on their license.
Teens also will have to perform community service or a pay a fine as part of any sentence, McDonnell said during a bill signing ceremony June 30.
“Drunk driving is preventable. The more you educate, the tougher laws that you’ve got the better you can get, especially to those young people who make a lot of bad decisions about getting behind the wheel, the more you can prevent them,” McDonnell said.
The change was needed not just to get teens’ attention but because of an inequity in the law, said state Del. Bill Janis, (R-Henrico).
Judges approached lawmakers because teens caught possessing alcohol illegally also faced jail time — a tougher penalty than for those convicted of drinking and driving under the influence of alcohol, Janis said.
Internet cafes
Lawmakers expanded the definition of illegal gambling to respond to a rash of illegal gaming businesses popping up statewide.
Businesses would sell phone cards or other tokens to customers who could redeem the cards for time on a gambling terminal.
Internet casino businesses were using a loophole in the state law that said sweepstakes are not gambling.
“You realize this is a ruse when you see all the phone cards on the floor,” said state Del. Glenn Oder, (R-Newport News). “They all have minutes on them, but it appears they have no worth.”
Search warrants
The public and the media will have to wait several days before viewing search warrants.
Now, the affidavits, which police use to lay out their probable cause for a search, will remain sealed for 15 days after they are approved or until they are served.
Circuit court clerks are charged with keeping a record and searchable index of search warrants, so they are accessible to the public.
Winery credits
Several new provisions become laws that legislators said will help Virginia’s growing wine industry.
One law change will eliminate a double excise tax on Virginia wine shipped out of state. Until now, Virginia wine was taxed in Virginia and again in the state where it was shipped, an extra layer of taxation that few states still have.
Eliminating the double tax is expected to help Virginia wineries be more competitive, lawmakers said.
And Virginia wineries now can apply for a tax credit aimed at encouraging more grape production and preventing good farmland from being paved over by development.
The 25 percent tax credit can go toward starting or expanding a winery or vineyard.
Grapes are the 20th top commodity in the state, and Virginia is the fifth largest producer of wine in the country. Vineyards occupy about 3,000 acres statewide.
Re: Virginians have a new slew of laws on the book
Posted by:
Easy Rider
()
Date: July 07, 2011 01:24PM
That article failed to mention the most important of the new laws:
"Bikes Can Run Red Lights Under New Virginia Law"
RICHMOND--If you ride a motorcycle or bicycle, you probably know the frustration of getting stuck at a red light that just won’t change – because the sensors under the street can’t detect your two-wheeler.
Two-wheel vehicles will be allowed to run those red lights... under a bill signed into law Thursday by Gov. Bob McDonnell.
House Bill 1981 will let motorcyclists, moped riders and bicyclists pass through red lights.
"Bikes Can Run Red Lights Under New Virginia Law"
RICHMOND--If you ride a motorcycle or bicycle, you probably know the frustration of getting stuck at a red light that just won’t change – because the sensors under the street can’t detect your two-wheeler.
Two-wheel vehicles will be allowed to run those red lights... under a bill signed into law Thursday by Gov. Bob McDonnell.
House Bill 1981 will let motorcyclists, moped riders and bicyclists pass through red lights.
Re: Virginians have a new slew of laws on the book
Posted by:
Pinhead the Cenobite
()
Date: July 07, 2011 01:28PM
True...but it is not that simple
Under his measure, motorcycles and bicycles must come to a complete stop at a red light and wait for 120 seconds or two cycles of the light.
-----------------------------------------------
"...your suffering will be legendary even in Hell!"
Under his measure, motorcycles and bicycles must come to a complete stop at a red light and wait for 120 seconds or two cycles of the light.
-----------------------------------------------
"...your suffering will be legendary even in Hell!"
Re: Virginians have a new slew of laws on the book
Posted by:
Boozer
()
Date: July 07, 2011 01:30PM
Is there a good, inexpensive ($10 or less) Virginia red wine anyone would recommend?
In the News... Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Winery credits
>
> Several new provisions become laws that
> legislators said will help Virginia’s growing
> wine industry.
>
> One law change will eliminate a double excise tax
> on Virginia wine shipped out of state. Until now,
> Virginia wine was taxed in Virginia and again in
> the state where it was shipped, an extra layer of
> taxation that few states still have.
>
> Eliminating the double tax is expected to help
> Virginia wineries be more competitive, lawmakers
> said.
>
> And Virginia wineries now can apply for a tax
> credit aimed at encouraging more grape production
> and preventing good farmland from being paved over
> by development.
> The 25 percent tax credit can go toward starting
> or expanding a winery or vineyard.
>
> Grapes are the 20th top commodity in the state,
> and Virginia is the fifth largest producer of wine
> in the country. Vineyards occupy about 3,000 acres
> statewide.
In the News... Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Winery credits
>
> Several new provisions become laws that
> legislators said will help Virginia’s growing
> wine industry.
>
> One law change will eliminate a double excise tax
> on Virginia wine shipped out of state. Until now,
> Virginia wine was taxed in Virginia and again in
> the state where it was shipped, an extra layer of
> taxation that few states still have.
>
> Eliminating the double tax is expected to help
> Virginia wineries be more competitive, lawmakers
> said.
>
> And Virginia wineries now can apply for a tax
> credit aimed at encouraging more grape production
> and preventing good farmland from being paved over
> by development.
> The 25 percent tax credit can go toward starting
> or expanding a winery or vineyard.
>
> Grapes are the 20th top commodity in the state,
> and Virginia is the fifth largest producer of wine
> in the country. Vineyards occupy about 3,000 acres
> statewide.
Re: Virginians have a new slew of laws on the book
Posted by:
ThePackLeader
()
Date: July 07, 2011 05:26PM
Pinhead the Cenobite Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> True...but it is not that simple
>
> Under his measure, motorcycles and bicycles must
> come to a complete stop at a red light and wait
> for 120 seconds or two cycles of the light.
I guarantee you it's still going to get more people killed.
==================================================================================================
"And if any women or children get their legs torn off, or faces caved in, well, it's tough shit for them." -2LT. Bert Stiles, 505th, 339th (On Berlin Bombardier Mission, 1944).
-------------------------------------------------------
> True...but it is not that simple
>
> Under his measure, motorcycles and bicycles must
> come to a complete stop at a red light and wait
> for 120 seconds or two cycles of the light.
I guarantee you it's still going to get more people killed.
==================================================================================================
"And if any women or children get their legs torn off, or faces caved in, well, it's tough shit for them." -2LT. Bert Stiles, 505th, 339th (On Berlin Bombardier Mission, 1944).
Re: Virginians have a new slew of laws on the book
Posted by:
Bert Stiles
()
Date: July 07, 2011 05:36PM
ThePackLeader Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I guarantee you it's still going to get more
> people killed.
True, but if any women or children get their legs torn off, or faces caved in, well, it's tough shit for them.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I guarantee you it's still going to get more
> people killed.
True, but if any women or children get their legs torn off, or faces caved in, well, it's tough shit for them.
Re: Virginians have a new slew of laws on the book
Posted by:
tomahawk
()
Date: July 07, 2011 06:17PM
Bert Stiles Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ThePackLeader Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I guarantee you it's still going to get more
> > people killed.
>
> True, but if any women or children get their legs
> torn off, or faces caved in, well, it's tough shit
> for them.
LOL!
-------------------------------------------------------
> ThePackLeader Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I guarantee you it's still going to get more
> > people killed.
>
> True, but if any women or children get their legs
> torn off, or faces caved in, well, it's tough shit
> for them.
LOL!