Gas Tax, Shark Fin Ban in Effect July 1st

Written by Claudia Cruz

This July 1st Californians will awake to new laws.

If you forgot to fill your tank Sunday, your wallet will take a hit when you stop for gas Monday. A 3.5 percent gas tax that the Board of Equalization approved in February goes into effect. This makes California's gas tax the highest nationwide at 72 cents per gallon compared to New York's 68.9 cents,according to the San Jose Mercury News.

Another law, the California Shark Protection Act (AB 376), a ban on the fishing, sale, possession and distribution of shark fin goes into effect. The legislation was sponsored by Assemblyman Paul Fong and signed Governor Jerry Brown signed into law on Oct. 7, 2011.

At the federal level—but affecting Silicon Valley technology companies—the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act also goes into effect. According to COPPA, websites, mobile apps and other online services that "collect, store or transmit" the personal information of children under the age of 13 must "post comprehensive privacy policies on their sites" and also "get parents’ consent before collecting the information."

What do you think of these new laws? Leave a comment!