In the pantheon of Virginia political has-beens, there’s a special place for powerful legislators defeated in primaries they were supposed to win, if only to preserve the influence of the lobbyists, business leaders and local officials who supported them.
A look at some of the new Virginia laws that started in July
NOTICE OF RENT INCREASES
Landlords who rent more than four units must give tenants at least 60 days notice of plans to raise rents when leases have an option to renew or have an automatic renewal provision.
EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
CRIME
People who make prank emergency calls — “swatting” — that result in the dispatch of police or other emergency personnel, are now subject to a punishment of one to five years in prison if such a call results in serious bodily injury, and a penalty of one to 10 years if someone is killed as a result. The term “swatting” is derived from the SWAT teams that often respond as a result of such calls.
It will now be a felony to team up with another person or people to steal from more than one store, even if each theft is small enough to be a misdemeanor ($1,000 or less). Organized retail theft is now subject to a prison term of five to 20 years.
It also will now be a felony to threaten in writing or by electronic message to disseminate, sell or publish nude images of another person, or of another person engaged in a sex act. This is now subject to a prison term of one to 10 years. If the other person is less than 18, the prison term can be up to 20 years.
And it is now against the law to sell or buy a catalytic converter detached from a motor vehicle, except by or from a scrap metal dealers. Judges and juries can now assume that a person with such a detached catalytic converted got it illegally.
AREK SOCHA, PIXABAY
DRIVING
Motorists must now move over and slow down when passing a stopped car or truck that has flashing hazard lights, or that has set up flares or that has set a warning sign.
Modification of headlights so they look blue is banned.
DANIEL SANGJIB MIN/RTD
Contact Jeff E. Schapiro at (804) 649-6814 or jschapiro@timesdispatch.com. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter, @RTDSchapiro. Listen to his analysis at 7:45 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. Friday on Radio IQ, 89.7 FM in Richmond; 89.1 FM in Roanoke; and WHRV, 89.5 FM in Norfolk.
