New Laws Ban Happy Hour, Regulate Fire-Breathing

[The Straight Story]

New Laws Ban Happy Hour, Regulate Fire-Breathing


State laws taking effect as 2012 begins require girls seeking abortions in New Hampshire to first tell their parents or a judge; voters in Tennessee to show photo ID; and California students to learn about the societal contributions of gays and lesbians. A sampling of some other new laws taking effect Jan. 1:

ILLINOIS

— People convicted of first-degree murder must be added to a new public database, similar to the sex offender registry, when they're released from prison or any other facility. The database would include names, addresses, workplaces, schools attended and photos for offenders for up to 10 years after release.

— Motorcyclists stopped at a red light may proceed through if it fails to change to green after a reasonable length of time.

NEVADA

— Music therapists and dietitians face new licensing requirements, while educators must now undergo a criminal background check when their licenses are renewed. Fire performers and apprentices must apply to the state fire marshal for certificate of registration.

UTAH

— New laws make any daily drink specials illegal, essentially banning happy hour.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/laws-ban-happy-hour-regulate-fire-breathing-15247457

[cthulu2016]

1. Automobile drivers, however...

Automobile drivers in Illinois, however, must sit at a defective red light until the heat death of the universe.

(I do understand the difficulty of holding up a motorcycle at a red light, but why not just say that if the light is broken any vehicle can eventually go through it.)

[taterguy]

2. The motorcycle exemption is because they don't weigh enough for some sensors

Happens to me a lot on a bike.

I wait for a car in my lane or just run it.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

3. And bicyclists don't need the rule

We run red lights all the time.

[cthulu2016]

4. good explanation

[Journeyman]

5. I read awhile back that if you apply ultra-strong neodymium magnets. . .

to the underside of your motorcycle they will help trip the sensors at red lights.

Can't say it if works or not (I don't ride motorcycles) but I've been curious since reading that to learn if it's a viable means to trip the sensors.

[saras]

6. Nice collection of stupid.

In NH, I take it that "tell a judge" does NOT mean "stick around and listen to the judge's stupid opinions."

Illinois - an automatic, unappealable extra ten years tacked onto their sentences, in contradiction to the existing system's mechanisms for choosing appropriate sentences.

Motorcyclists may now kill themselves freely if they have stupid definitions of "reasonable". That would have been an EASY law to make objective. No moving vehicles for 100 yards, for example. Or some other number. Or a specific length of time.

Utah - happy hour is still legal, you just have to vary the times and deals offered, so it's not "daily". A one-week schedule suffices.