Photo credit: Scott Hadfield via Flickr

The New Year signals the start of many things, new laws being one. Here are a few —- some new for 2013, a couple introduced this last year — I found particularly interesting:

California
Driverless Cars
Driverless cars now have the green light to be tested on public streets. A human must still be in the passenger seat in case of an emergency.

Prisoner “Relations”
Law officers want to get frisky with prisoners? Think again. Effective Jan. 1, it’s illegal to have sex with anyone in custody, including those that have been arrested but not booked. Frankly, I find it odd that this was ever legal in the first place.

Illinois
Popping Wheelies
In 2012, motorcyclists got the OK to run red lights in “certain instances” (if the light doesn’t change after two minutes and coast is clear). That law is still valid but new for 2013, no popping any wheelies. That will cost cyclists $1,000.

Kansas
Cat Crackdown
Residents of Wellington are now prohibited from owning more than four felines in one home.

Minnesota
Portable Electronics
Fear getting Apple picked? Rest easy; a new law regulates insurance to cover the loss or damage of portable electronics.

Public Drunkenness
Although not new for 2013, I did find this particularly interesting. Seems that all those warnings were false, you cannot be charged with or convicted of the offense of drunkenness or public drunkenness.

Virginia
Gun Permit
Left your license at home when voting? Not a problem in Virginia. Effective last year, simply use your concealed gun permit as an alternative form of identification.

Any fun or interesting laws I’m missing?