State, Warren County laws became effective July 1

RICHMOND, Va. – On Saturday, July 1, laws enacted by the General Assembly went into effect. Dozens of new laws are now on the books, with some garnering more attention than others.
Some that may be of interest to Royal Examiner readers:

Slow drivers. HB 2201. Sets the fine for failing to drive on the right side of highways or failing to observe traffic lanes at $100.

Drivers may now be cited by police for driving too slowly in the left lane on state highways. The bill’s sponsor, Del. Israel O’Quinn, (R-Bristol) said he hoped the law would help cut down on slow drivers occupying the left lane, which can endanger first responders’ lives and also spark road rage. The fine for offenders is $100.

Traffic-stop education. HB 2290. Driver education programs; instruction concerning traffic stops. Students will learn traffic-stop procedures in driver’s ed. class. Bill requires the Board of Education to collaborate with the Department of State Police to implement curriculum changes to the driver education program.

Stronger alcohol.  HB 1842. The law increases from 101 to 151 the proof of neutral grain alcohol that is without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color that may be sold at government stores. The stronger booze law expires in five years.

Beer and wine delivery.  HB 1801. Off-premise beer and wine licensees can deliver closed containers of alcoholic beverages to a customer’s vehicle in the parking lot of the facility, provided an online order of the alcohol was placed prior to the delivery of product.

Victims. HB 2217. Victims of sexual violence and human trafficking may now apply for the address confidentiality program.

Oral contraceptives. HB 2267. Allows a woman access to a 12-month supply of birth control pills. Most insurance policies currently limit women to a 90-day supply of oral contraceptives.

Hunting apparel; blaze pink. HB 1939. Allows hunters to wear blaze pink instead of blaze orange hunting apparel when required during firearms deer hunting season or the special season for hunting deer with a muzzle-loading rifle.

Hunting license; bear, deer, or turkey; electronic carry. SB 968. The law removes the requirement that a license to hunt bear, deer, or turkey be carried in paper form, allowing it to be carried by electronic or computerized means.

For more information on all of the bills passed this legislative session: http://dls.virginia.gov/pubs/idc/idc17.pdf

Beginning Saturday, July 1, two new laws were on the books for Warren County that will affect builders and business owners who owe back taxes.  According to the Warren County website:

Ordinance to Ordain Section 76-9.1 of the Warren County Code – Requiring payment of delinquent real estate taxes owed to the County for the subject property before applying for a building permit.

Ordinance to Amend and Re-Ordain Section 117-3 of the Warren County Code – Requiring that no business license shall be issued or renewed until the applicant has paid all delinquent business license, personal property, meals, and transient occupancy taxes owed by the business to the County.

Hotels in Warren County may now, thanks to the amendment and reenactment of section 58.1-3819 of the Code of Virginia, “levy a transient occupancy tax on hotels, motels, boarding houses, travel campgrounds, and other facilities offering guest rooms rented out for continuous occupancy for fewer than 30 consecutive days” of up to five percent of the amount of charge for the room or space occupied.

Any amount levied over the two percent can be designated and spent for tourism marketing, to attract travelers to the area and to increase occupancy at lodging properties in the region. Until the state amended the bill, Warren County was only allowed to charge a two percent transient occupancy tax.

In addition to Warren, Goochland and Powhatan Counties were added with this amendment.