New year means new laws! Hope you got your fill of taping your secret pornos with child prostitutes after sending them pirated movies via the Internet and driving home in the rain without your headlights on. Here's a sampling of what took effect in the state of California effective Jan. 1 (via the L.A. Times):
Bedroom privacy: It is a misdemeanor to film someone in a bedroom without their knowledge. (In other words, Paris Hilton can breathe easy, but those "Girls Gone Wild" producers better head to Vegas.)
Child prostitution: Punishment for people convicted of soliciting child prostitutes includes an additional year in state prison. (The Neverland Ranch is not exempt.)
Force-fed birds: A ban on the force-feeding of ducks and geese to enlarge their livers to make foie gras was passed this year, but doesn't take effect until July 2012.
Headlights: Drivers must use headlights in weather that makes it difficult to see another person or car at 1,000 feet or when the windshield wipers must be used. (A law that has already been put to good use.)
Internet piracy: Anybody sending copyrighted movies, video games or music via the Internet to more than 10 people must include the sender's legitimate e-mail address. Violators face fines of up to $2,500 and a year in jail. (And yes, they're on to the fact that bite@me.com is not a legitimate e-mail address.)
Needles: Pharmacists can sell a customer up to 10 hypodermic needles without a prescription. (Sorry, the black tar heroin is still extra.)
Prisons: The Department of Corrections' mission is expanded from focusing solely on punishment to include education and job training. (On how to punish people.)
Scooters: It is illegal to operate a motor scooter without a valid driver's license or learner's permit. Non-electric motor scooters must have mufflers that meet specifications.
Shoppers: Stores must charge the lowest price posted, advertised or quoted for an item. (Does that include my ten hypodermic needles?
Smoking: Starting in July, smoking by inmates and guards is banned in state prisons. (That's OK, because they'll be focused on all this "education and job training." Right? Huh?)
Spyware: It is illegal to intentionally install computer software known as spyware, which can collect personal information, disable anti-virus shields and otherwise disrupt a computer's function. Though the law prescribes no punishment for violators, private citizens can sue for actual damages.
No more spyware, and the end of shooting surreptitious porn? Not a good year for stalkers. Happy 05!
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