Three Common Sense Laws Taking Effect Today

Passing smart laws that help keep our streets, communities and families safe has always been among my highest priorities as your Senator.

And I'm pleased to report that three new laws to accomplish these goals have just gone into effect November 1st.

· The first is a common sense law designed to enhance the safety of students and parents by prohibiting drivers from making U turns within school zones.

· The second measure includes a series of provisions to strengthen "Leandra's Law," in order to prevent convicted drunk drivers from avoiding the mandated use of ignition interlocks. This will help to address a recent review by the Department of Criminal Justice Services which determined that more than 70 percent of DWI offenders have found ways to avoid using ignition interlocks. The new law also raises the penalty for DWI with a conditional license to a class E felony, punishable by a prison sentence of up to four years.

· Under the third new law, someone under the age of 21 who uses a fake ID to buy alcoholic beverages will now face double the community service hours on a second offense, from 30 hours to 60 hours. If someone is charged for the third time, that person faces up to 90 hours of community service.

Enhancing safety in our school zones. Keeping drunk drivers off the road. Cracking down on underage drinking.

Three new laws with one goal in mind: improving safety for you and your loved ones.