Clarification: According to the Legislative Research Office, the new Off Highway Vehicle law states that
"A person under the age of 18 may not operate or ride on all-terrain type I vehicles,
snowmobiles, or motorcycles on public land unless the person is wearing a properly fitted and
fastened, United States Department of Transportation safety-rated protective headgear designed for
motorized vehicle use."
The helmet requirement was already law, but the safety rating for the helmet and fastening requirement were added during this legislative session.
The bill is HB 197: Off-highway Vehicle Amendments.
May 6, 2002
There are now 244 new laws to obey in Utah.
May 6th is the effective date for legislation passed down from Capitol Hill.
The new measures affect everything from your pocketbook to your personal computer.
Government Specialist Richard Piatt explains a few of the changes.
Like so many laws, some are popular and some are unpopular--and at least one is downright controversial.
Like every courthouse in Utah, gun owners are supposed to be able to secure their weapon here--if they want to.
But, like every courthouse in Utah, there isn't a place to do that--yet.
So for now, Davis County is doing things they way it always has.
Rick Davis/2nd District Trial Court Executive: THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN THE FIREARM AND SECURED IT IN A SECURED AREA.
They're making this new law work in Salt Lake County, too, even though there are a lot of people who aren't thrilled about it.
So it goes with many of the new laws that took effect at midnight.
From posting "In God We Trust" in schools, to lobbying laws that limit spending on legislators, and a crackdown on DUI's: The laws take time to implement.
But you should still expect to be held accountable starting May 6.
Enforcement may be a question mark for new computer laws.
One targets sexualy explicit e-mails---the other prohibits 'spam'--unsolicited e-mail.
There may be a delayed reaction to a new tax on cigarettes: Hhiking the state's portion to 69-and-a-half cents a pack.
But that applies only to cigarettes purchased from wholesalers after May 6.
Gary Klc/Jeanie's Smoke Shop: EVEYTHING I HAVE IN STOCK RIGHT NOW TECHNICALLY IS NOT TAXED.
Some smokers find the new steeper price a predictable thing.
Jack Morgan/Cigarette Smoker: IT'S A SIN TAX, IT'S EVERYPLACE.
A more 'tasteful' law has to do with the state's new official vegeatable: the Spanish sweet onion.
But don't expect sales on it to rise...
Johnny Mo/Liberty Heights Fresh: EVERYBODY USES ONIONS, BUT I DON'T SEE THEM BUYING MORE OF IT.
We should point out the state's new Historic Vegeatable is the sugar beet--one of the many political compromises that took place on Capitol Hill this year.
