No texting while driving one of 879 laws taking effect July 1

No more texting while driving. No more loitering on bridges. And no more smoking in many restaurants.

These are but a few of the 879 bills that were passed into law this last General Assembly session, according to the Virginia Legislative Information System. They're due for effect July 1.

On March 30, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine signed into law a prohibition against reading or typing text messages while driving. The offense is secondary, however. That means police may only issue citations if they apprehend the driver for another offense, like speeding or failing to stop for a red light. First time offenders are issued tickets for $20; after that, the charge for the offense is $50.

On March 9, Kaine signed into law the Indoor Clean Air Act, establishing a statewide ban on smoking in restaurants. However, certain facilities are exempt from the ban. For instance, patrons may still smoke in "a restaurant that is constructed in such a manner that areas where smoking may be permitted are structurally separated from the portion of the restaurant in which smoking is prohibited and such areas are separately vented," according to the text of the legislation.

And on March 27, Kaine approved H.B. 1629, giving "counties the same authority as cities and towns to prohibit loitering on bridges … and on highway rights-of-way," the text reads. The county must first obtain the permission from the Commonwealth Transportation Commission to place signs against loitering on the specific bridges or rights-of-way. Violators, according to the new law, "shall be guilty of a traffic infraction."

Several new environmental rules and provisions are set for a July 1 implementation date, too. On the allowance side—meaning, these are new carrots localities have in their possession— local governments have permission to offer incentives for developers to construct green roofs and to establish historical areas for preservation purposes. On the rule side—these are the new sticks localities can wield—local governments can require developers to show in their application package how they will preserve these historical sites.

Also new:

n Nonresidents of Virginia may now foxhunt in training preserves, provided they pay $12 for a license. The previous law only gave nonresidents the ability to foxhunt in shooting preserves.

n It's a Class 3 misdemeanor to "willfully and intentionally impede someone who has obtained a kill permit from killing a bear or deer that is damaging the owner's property," according to the text of the new law.

n Students who skip school and have 10 or more unexcused absences in a row could see their driver's licenses suspended.

n Dove hunters don't have to wear blazing orange clothing any longer.

n Doctors' offices can't charge for copies of medical bills any more—at least, for those patients who request copies less than three times a year.

nAnd payday lenders can't charge more than 36 percent interest for unsecured loans.

That last—the prohibition on pay day lending—was emergency legislation that went into effect the day the governor signed it into law, April 8.

n Pertinent specifically to Prince William are two new laws that allow the Circuit Court clerk to start a pilot program to assess fees for land records, and the county government to prohibit the on-street parking of trucks more than 20 feet in length. This parking provision does not apply to commercial vehicles, however.

Staff writer Cheryl Chumley can be reached at 703-670-1907.