Several new Texas laws went into effect on Tuesday, including regulations that make it hard to talk on a cell phone while driving.
Drivers of exotic cars, as well as regular vehicles, will no longer be able to use a handheld phone while driving through a Texas school zone.
The cell phone laws aren’t the only new regulations that went into effect on Tuesday.
There were also changes to the car seat law, which now requires children under the age of 8 years old or shorter than 4 feet, 9 inches to ride in a booster seat.
All automobile passengers will now be required to wear a seat belt while in a moving vehicle.
Other important changes that began on Tuesday include the following:
- There will be a tax increase for smokeless tobacco.
- It will remain illegal to carry a concealed weapon into a bar, but a legal defense will be possible if the bar does not post a sign saying that 51 percent or more of the business’s income results from the sale of beverages containing alcohol.
- Applicants for a concealed handgun license will no longer be disqualified for defaulting on student loan payments.
- Those carrying a concealed handgun with a license who refuse to display it to peace officers will no longer face suspension of their license.
- A new law will mandate the method of folding the state flag.
- High school students will have more choice of elective courses.
While the booster seat law is not likely to affect exotic car drivers, who often drive cars without a back seat, they will be required to wear a seatbelt at all times. However, most people already feel the need to buckle up when they drive a Lamborghini.
More and more Texas residents are realizing that they don’t need to own an exotic vehicle in order to drive the car of their dreams. Alternatives like exotic car rental, exotic car sharing clubs, and automotive dream tours make it possible to drive an exotic car without the hassle and expense of ownership.
The new laws were created and adopted during 2009, and they took effect on Tuesday. Tuesday is the first day of the 2010 fiscal year in Texas.
Kate Miller-Wilson is a professional freelance writer living in the Twin Cities. Visit her website or email her for information about her freelance writing services.
