NEW VIRGINIA LAWS EFFECTIVE JULY 1:
WHAT THEY MEAN FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
BY KANIYA LAWRENCE
Back-to-school season has officially begun for most colleges and universities in the Hampton Roads area, and so has the passing of several new laws that took effect on July 1.
These laws, ratified by the Virginia General Assembly, address issues related to traffic and transportation, public safety and criminal justice, consumer protections and digital rights, and more.
Many of these laws can directly impact college students and may be beneficial or harmful to students residing in Virginia during this school year.
For traffic and transportation, all drivers and accompanying passengers above the age of 18 are now required to wear a seatbelt while driving on a public highway.
The previous law only required adults in the front seats to wear a seatbelt, but after a high school graduate tragically lost his life in a car crash in 2020 due to not wearing his seatbelt, the law was passed in his memory and is called the“ Christopher King Seat Belt Law.”
Drivers must always stop for pedestrians under specific conditions, such as at clearly marked crosswalks, midblock or at block ends, crosswalks aligned with sidewalks at block ends, or intersections on roads with speed limits up to 35 mph.
According to the Virginia Legislative Information System,“ The drivers of vehicles entering, crossing, or turning at intersections shall change their course, slow down, or stop if necessary to permit pedestrians to cross such intersections safely and expeditiously.” If not, and the traffic infraction leads to injury or death, it is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor.
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Students should remain mindful of where they park and ensure they obtain a proper parking decal this semester on campus, as the towing rate will increase from $ 150 to $ 210 for all standard passenger vehicles.
No hookup and initial towing fee for any passenger vehicle may exceed $ 210. However, extra fees may be
added depending on how each locality determines towing regulations.
If you live with lupus, know anyone who does, or want to support those living with it, Virginia is now raising awareness by authorizing a new specialty license plate meant to support and raise funds for the Social Butterflies Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports and advocates for those living with lupus or fibromyalgia.
According to the official Facebook page of the Social Butterflies Foundation:“ By pre-ordering Virginia’ s lupus awareness license plate, you can positively influence the lives of many affected by this condition.”
There is a possibility that the court may dismiss violations for licensing complications, such as driving without a license or driving with a suspended license, if you show proof of compliance before the court date and pay any court fees.
GOV. GLENN YOUNGKIN DELIVERING HIS 2025 STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS TO THE MEMBERS OF VIRGINIA’ S GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.( PHOTO BY CHARLOTTE RENE WOODS / VIRGINIA MERCURY)
SPARTAN ECHO