Some new laws went into effect on July 1

Published by admin on Wed, 07/03/2019 - 10:21am
By: 
Steve Lyon
Some of the 300-plus new or
amended laws passed during the
2019 Legislature took effect this
week on July 1.
You may not have thought the state
needed 300 new or amended laws, but
we got them. Lawmakers
needed something to do during
the session.
Some bills were partisan
and championed by Democrats
or Republicans, while
others were bi-partisan and
had support from both sides
of the aisle.
In reality, no bills pass in
the GOP-controlled Idaho
Legislature without Republicans
getting on board. The
Democrats just don’t have
the votes.
A few of the new laws
were noteworthy. Thanks to the Associated
Press for compiling the list.
I had no idea that bounty hunters in
Idaho needed to be reined in with new
rules. Maybe the reality TV show starring
Dog the bounty hunter has inspired
a rush of amateurs to take up what must
be an exciting profession.
Bounty hunters in Idaho must now be
at least 18 years old, wear badges and
notify the county sheriff when they seek
to apprehend a bail jumper.
The following would seem to be a
basic qualification for the job. The law
now states that bounty hunters must not
be mentally ill as defined in Idaho law.
And get this. Bounty hunters
cannot be a fugitive from
justice. I thought they went
after fugitives from justice?
Who is chasing whom?
Another law that took effect
on Monday lowered
the age to carry a concealed
weapon within city limits to
18 from 21. It’s also worth
noting that in Idaho a permit
or training is not required to
pack a handgun.
The gun lobby would differ
with my thoughts on this,
but 18 seems a bit young to
be carrying a concealed weapon. There’s
a qualifiable difference in maturity between
18 and the age of 21, in my opinion.
There were a number of good, wellreasoned
and needed laws that took effect
on July 1.
One requires motorists to slow down
and move over when approaching tow
trucks and maintenance vehicles assisting
other motorists on Idaho’s highways.
Just recently, a flagger on a road construction
project in Oregon was run over
and killed while on the job. How does
this happen? Slow down in construction
zones and when you see vehicles on the
side of the highway.
The penalties for motorists passing
school buses with their stop arms out
that are loading or unloading students
went up big time. A first-time offense
doubled from $100 to $200 and drivers
are also dinged on points.
You can now buy a pet-friendly license
plate in Idaho and sales will fund
low-cost spaying and neutering for low
income families.
Another law allows Idahoans to donate
their unused prescription drugs, except
for opioids. The drugs will be given
to indigent Idahoans who can’t afford
them. I guess hand-me-down drugs are
fine. How about making drugs affordable
for all?
Historic theaters, including Weiser’s
very own Star Theater, can now sell beer
and wine as of July 1. The additional
revenue can help keep historic theaters
across the state economically viable.
Steve Lyon is the editor of the Weiser
Signal American. Contact him at

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