Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - Several new laws took effect on Tuesday, July 1 in Virginia, including a few that will impact drivers.
Beginning on Tuesday, all adult passengers will need to wear seatbelts no matter where they are seated in a vehicle. Previously, only adults in the driver and front passenger seats were legally required to buckle up.
Also starting Tuesday, illegal street takeovers and exhibition driving will now be considered reckless driving. The law specifically bans maneuvers like doughnuts and drifting. Additionally, anyone found riding on the roof or hood of a vehicle performing such maneuvers can now be prosecuted.
New alcohol-related laws in Virginia include cocktails-to-go becoming permanent and mixed beverage licensees now being allowed to serve the entire contents of a canned cocktail to a single patron as long as the container is 16 ounces or less and the cocktail’s alcohol by volume is no greater than 15%.
A new law also addresses destruction of mail, damaging mailboxes, or stealing and using mail keys. HB 1715 and SB 939 creates a Class 6 felony for stealing, destroying, or tempering with someone else’s mail.
Additionally, the bell-to-bell cell phone restriction in schools is now official, and the ban on Styrofoam containers for restaurants with 20 or more locations in Virginia has begun.