New laws impact everything from traffic fines to education

Court costs and traffic fines are now more expensive. New motorcyclists and young ATV drivers now must take driving or safety courses.

These are but a few of the results of a variety of new state laws that took effect Tuesday.

Here's a closer look at how some of these laws might affect you:

Rising court costs: Fees for court filings and traffic fines increased July 1. Filing legal paperwork for an eviction rose from $70 to $295. Getting a public record certified rose from $1.50 to $2. Traffic fines in Alachua County rose for a variety of offenses ranging from violating child seat laws to speeding, according to the Alachua County Clerk of Court. For example, the cost for a seat belt violation rose from $79.50 to $94.

Textbook law: Florida's community colleges and public universities must post lists of the textbooks required for each class on their Web sites at least 30 days before classes begin.

The law is meant to give students time to look for cheaper prices but already has drawn criticism for failing to address rising textbook prices.<0x000A>The law also directs the Florida Board of Governors to develop guidelines by next March to make textbooks more affordable.

Course for new motorcyclists: New motorcyclists must now finish the Basic Rider Course through the Florida Rider Trainer Program before they can receive a motorcycle endorsement on their driver's license. Previously, only those under 21 had to take the course.

To locate a course sponsor or teacher, go to http://motorcycles.hsmv.state.fl.us or call 850-488-3286.

Once someone successfully completes the course, the sponsor transmits results electronically to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. For more information, go to www.flhsmv.gov.

Safety course for off-road vehicles: Under the new law, anyone under 16 who operates an off-highway vehicle or OHV such as an all-terrain vehicle or a motorbike on public lands must complete an approved OHV safety course in Florida or another jurisdiction and have the certificate in their possession.

"The popularity of riding ATVs and off-highway motorcycles has steadily grown among our youth in Florida, and hopefully this law will reduce the number of accidents and fatalities that occur each year," said Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Bronson.

The law had been passed in 2007 but offered a year for riders to comply with the requirements. For more information on the law and registering for training, go to www.FloridaOHV.org.

State song: Florida has an official state anthem, "Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky," and racially offensive lyrics were replaced in the state song, Stephen Foster's "Old Folks at Home," which also is known as "Way Down Upon the Swanee River."

People proven innocent subject to reimbursement: Anyone proven innocent after spending time in prison would automatically receive $50,000 for every year they were imprisoned. A person with a prior felony conviction is excluded from this reimbursement and must seek compensation through the Legislature.

Temporary license plates: All temporary tags now must be displayed on the rear of a vehicle in a license plate bracket, not in the rear window.

Information on the tag will be assigned to the person registering the vehicle, like a permanent plate.

Improperly displaying a tag can result in a non-moving traffic violation.

"In the past, if a temporary tag was run, the officer would only be given information as to where the vehicle was purchased," said Col. John Czernis, director of the Florida Highway Patrol. "The new law related to temporary license plates is a great tool for law enforcement officers."

Donating food to the needy: A new state law prohibits lawsuits against restaurants if someone gets sick from food restaurants donate to charities and non-profit organizations.

The law is aimed at encouraging restaurants to donate leftover food to the needy. An 11-year-old South Florida boy came up with the idea after talking with a restaurant manager who explained leftover food couldn't be donated for fear of being sued.

Education changes: The importance of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test will be reduced in grading high schools. Other factors such as graduation rates and participation in advanced classes will be considered.

Elementary and middle schools will continue to be graded solely on FCAT scores.

Other changes establish uniform teacher ethics rules to replace differing local criteria and require 30 minutes of continuous exercise daily for elementary school students.

As of fall 2009, daily gym classes are required in middle school.

Gun law: A new law allows employees who have a concealed weapons permit to keep their guns in their vehicles while at work.<0x000A> But the law does not apply at the University of Florida, according to campus police.

The law prompted an e-mail from UF Police Chief Linda Stump to campus officials earlier this month noting that the law does not apply to UF because of a special exemption for educational institutions.

Under the university's regulations, guns are prohibited on campus or any land or property occupied by the university.

The law currently is being challenged in federal court, but a ruling on a temporary injunction has been delayed until mid-July.

Marijuana grow house eradication act: A new law makes it a second-degree felony to grow 25 or more marijuana plants compared to the previous threshold of 300 plants.

Proponents say it targets for-profit growers. The law also makes it a third-degree felony to own a house for the purpose of cultivating, packaging and distributing marijuana and a first-degree felony to grow 25 or more plants in a home where children are present.

Marijuana grow houses have been found in more than 40 of Florida's 67 counties recently, according to the Florida Attorney General's Office.

Increased penalties for repeat child molesters: People 18 or older who are convicted more than once of molesting a child under 12 will be sentenced to life in prison.

Lawsuits in child pornography cases: The law change permits lawsuits against people who download or distribute images of a child's sexual abuse for no less than $150,000 per incident, according to the Florida Attorney General's Office.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.