States’ New Laws Run Gamut--From Drunk Drivers to Litterbugs

Starting today, new state laws impose harsher penalties on drunk drivers, allow certain convicts to serve sentences at home and increase AIDS testing.

A new statute in Rhode Island requires AIDS testing of convicts and testing of prostitutes and intravenous drug users who are arrested. The state will also offer voluntary acquired immune deficiency syndrome tests, for example, to hospital patients, marriage license applicants and prenatal-care patients.

Illinois will start allowing certain nonviolent convicts to serve part or all of their sentences at home. Inmates will be monitored electronically, officials said.

Gasoline taxes rise a penny in South Carolina, and 2 cents in Iowa and Oregon.

Four Arkansas communities--Little Rock, North Little Rock, Garland County and Wiederkehr Village--make state history with new laws allowing Sunday sales of mixed drinks.

Those caught drunk behind the wheel in some states face stiff new sanctions. New Year’s revelers in Illinois arrested for drunk driving will have their cars impounded by police for up to six hours even if the driver has posted bond.

“Before this law change, there was no provision putting brakes on a violator getting his car back,” said Sgt. Charles Schwarting, an Illinois State Police spokesman.

South Carolina’s Highway Safety Act doubles fines for drunk driving and requires police to confiscate the vehicles of repeat offenders.

New York will begin restricting beer sales at sports arenas, including Yankee and Shea stadiums and Madison Square Garden.

In Kansas, county clerks will not have to squint over the fine print now that the Legislature is requiring state documents to be printed in type no smaller than 8 points--about the size of newspaper text.

Litterbugs in Illinois face stiffer penalties in the new year--six months in jail instead of 30 days.

And, starting today, residents of Missouri will pay state and local sales taxes on video rentals, with proceeds to go toward satellite equipment for educational broadcasts to schools.

“It will be nice that we’ll finally get some educational benefit from Rambo III,” said the law’s sponsor, state Sen. Jay Nixon.

Among other state law changes taking effect today:

--Illinois parents ordered to pay child support face automatic payroll withholding.

--Louisiana gets a tough new campaign finance law limiting individual and political action committee contributions for the first time.

--A “returnable pet law” takes effect in New York. If a veterinarian certifies that a cat or dog purchased at retail is unfit, its owner can return it or receive reimbursement for veterinary care.

--Washington state raises its minimum wage from $2.30 to $3.85 as a result of a voter initiative passed in November.

--New York will become the first state to keep track of prescriptions of Valium, Librium and other tranquilizers to identify doctors who may be overprescribing them.

--In Massachusetts, a major auto insurance reform bill could mean about $200 million in savings for motorists who pay among the nation’s highest premiums.

--In Florida, a strengthened “lemon law” on defective cars sets up state-run arbitration boards in eight cities to hear appeals from consumers.