Fuzzy dice will finally be free to hang from the mirrors In Illinois. Starting Monday, police officers in Illinois are no longer allowed to pull over drivers solely due to objects hanging from rearview mirrors, including air fresheners, parking placards and fuzzy dice. The revised Illinois windshield rules is only one of hundreds of new laws that will take effect in states across the U.S. at the beginning of the year. While some of these laws may seem mundane, many of them have practical effects or pertain to controversial issues such as restricting weapons and regulating medical treatments for transgender individuals.
Originally, the Illinois windshield law was passed in order to improve roadway safety but has been seen by some as an excuse for officers to pull over drivers. The new law still prohibits objects that obstruct the driver’s view but forbids law enforcement officers from conducting stops or searches solely because of potential violations. Democratic state Sen. Christopher Belt, one of the bill’s sponsors, stated that this new law sends a strong message that the state does not tolerate racial profiling or any other form of discrimination.
Another law in Illinois bans video conferences or scanning social media while driving to address distracted driving. In other states, laws prohibiting actions such as ghost guns and high-powered semiautomatic rifles and high-capacity magazines have also taken effect, while there are also laws seen as regulating online activities in Connecticut and North Carolina.
Gender restrictions are another aspect covered in many laws going into effect. Over the past few years, there has been a push to restrict access to gender-affirming treatments for transgender minors, with bans on access for minors to puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgery in a few states. However, Democrat-dominated states are responding with transgender protections, such as Hawaii’s new law requiring new marriage certificates to be issued to people who request to change how their sex is listed. Colorado also has a new law regarding the requirement of restrooms that do not specify gender in government-owned buildings.
Minimum wage increases and tax rate changes are also a focus for new laws this year. More than 20 states will increase their minimum wage, while citizens in some states will gain money through tax reduction. For example, in Kansas, the sales tax on groceries will be dropping from 4% to 2%, while about 1 million tax filers in Connecticut are expected to benefit from the state’s income tax rate reduction. Other tax break provisions have taken effect in states such as Missouri and Alabama.
