New Laws - July 2000
Our inaugural newsletter takes a look at some of the new laws recently passed by the 2000 Session of the Virginia General Assembly, which will become effective on July 1, 2000.
DWI... A first-time offender convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI), whose blood alcohol level is 0.20 or greater, will now be required to serve a mandatory minimum of five (5) days in jail. This mandatory minimum jail time increases to ten (10) days if the blood alcohol level is 0.25 or greater. A second offense within ten years will double the mandatory minimum jail time.
IDENTITY FRAUD... It will now be a Class I misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of $1,000, for any person to unlawfully and without permission appropriate the identity of another. Presumably, this would include using someone else's driver's liscense or other identifying documents.
BODY PIERCING... It will now be a crime for anyone to engage in body piercing of a minor (less than 18 years old), unless the minor's parent is present. Ear-piercing is expressly excluded from this prohibition.
TEACHER ASSAULT... This is a "common sense" law that protects any school teacher from a charge of assault and battery if he/she is acting to quell a disturbance, to prevent a student from harming himself, or to defend others from harm.
COMPUTER HARASSMENT... The high-tech age has spawned yet another law to protect us against e-antics of others. It is now a Class I misdemeanor to use a computer to send vulgar, obscene or indecent language, or proposals, to another with the intent to intimidate or harass such person(s).
DEATH PENALTY... Virginia has now decided that a murderer must be at least 16 years of age at the time of committing the crime in order to be sentenced to death.
SPOUSAL SUPPORT... The new law places an affirmative obligation upon any spouse of any remarriage. Another law creates a presumption that spousal support (alimony) should terminate upon proof that the recipient spouse has been cohabiting with a member of the opposite sex for a period of one year.
These are just a few of the new laws going into effect on July 1, 2000, which may be of interest to you. For a more complete listing of the new legislation passed by the 2000 Session of the General Assembly, see www.courts.state.va.us and click "Court-Related Bills."