700 New Laws Take Effect In California On January 1, 2011

In all, there are more than 700 new laws taking effect in the State of California on January 1, 2011. Some of them are minor, some could have a profound impact on your life.

Here is a brief overview of some of the laws that will take effect:

Marijuana

In 2011, possession of less than an ounce of pot is an infraction similar to a traffic ticket, and not the criminal misdemeanor it was in the past. The new California law states that the fine cannot exceed $100.

Truancy

In 2011, parents of children (kindergarten through eighth grade) are charged with a misdemeanor if the child misses 10-percent or more of the school year without an excuse. The new California law can punish offending parents with up to a year in jail and a fine of $2,000.

Child Abuse

In 2011, cases where a caregiver causes serious injury (such as a coma or paralysis) are prosecuted for punishment which can now include life in prison. The new California law includes relatives and non-relatives.

Child Rape

In 2011, ‘Chelsea’s Law’ ups the penalties for forcible sex acts against minors and creates a penalty of ‘life without the possibility of parole’ for specific acts and imposes lifetime parole for certain sex offenses. The new California law also punishes such acts committed within public parks more severely.

Social Media

In 2011, it is crime to conduct a “malicious, credible impersonation” through a social media site, email or website. The new California law punishes the harming, intimidating, threatening or defrauding of another person online with up to a year in jail and a fine of $1,000.

Guns

In 2011, the state will make it harder to get ammunition for guns by requiring stores to keep ammunition behind the counter so sales only occur with face-to-face transactions. The new California law mandates that buyers provide a thumbprint and an ID.

Criminal Records

In 2011, California courts may expunge (remove) a conviction from a person’s record for most infractions. In the past, only misdemeanors and some felonies were eligible for expungement. The new California law states that people seeking a clean record must not be on parole or be a party in another case.

Medical Parole

In 2011, there is a medical parole program law for inmates permanently incapacitated. A second new California law grants an alternative to incarceration for female inmates, pregnant inmates or inmates who are primary caregivers for children via electronic monitoring and required substance abuse treatment, educational or vocational training.

Trans Fats

In 2011, California outlaws oil, shortening or margarine containing artificial trans fats in restaurant food as well as other foods including baked goods.

While these new California laws are not the only new ones enforced by the State of California, they are the laws most Californians are talking about in addition to the new 2011 California laws from the DMV.

A list of the new DMV laws can be found here.

Other laws hitting the books on January 1:

? The Amber Alert notification system can be used when there is an attack on a law enforcement officer and the suspect has fled.

? State prison inmates who are incapacitated by health problems can shift some of their cost of care to the federal government.

? Plaintiffs and defendants can agree to one-day expedited jury trials.

? Foster youth are eligible for state services until they turn 21.

? Anyone under 21 who wants to drive a motorcycle must complete a safety course before being issued an instruction permit.

? Paparazzi driving recklessly or causing someone else to drive recklessly while chasing celebrities can be charged with a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $2,500 fine.

? Automakers and owners can place video recording devices on their vehicles which can monitor when there is a crash or unusual vehicle motion.

? All license plates will be required to be mounted parallel to the ground so the characters are upright and displayed from left to right.

? Courts can seize property used in human trafficking and traffickers can face civil penalties up to $25,000.

? Landlords will not be allowed to evict tenants who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.