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#10 new Arizona laws that will affect residents

Tom Tingle/The Republic

The majority of the new laws will have little day-to-day impact on the public, instead addressing state-budget issues, specific industries or regulating state agencies.

The majority of the new laws will have little day-to-day impact on the public, instead addressing state-budget issues, specific industries or regulating state agencies. less

The Arizona Legislature passed and Gov. Jan Brewer signed 278 new laws this year. Most of them go into effect Thursday.

The majority of the new laws will have little day-to-day impact on the public, instead addressing state-budget issues, specific industries or regulating state agencies. Here are 10 new laws the public may want to take note of:

Boating: Creates a civil penalty for boaters operating a motorized watercraft who refuse to submit to a drug or alcohol test.

Abortions: Makes it a misdemeanor to help a minor get an abortion in violation of parental-consent regulations; eliminates a requirement that the state Department of Health Services first get a warrant to conduct an unannounced inspection of an abortion clinic during business hours if there is reasonable cause to believe it is violating licensing requirements.

Golf carts: Allows a golf cart or neighborhood electric vehicle to be driven on the roads or along the paved shoulder of a road in age-restricted communities in Maricopa County.

Carrying guns: Residents currently in the military or who have been honorably discharged from the military can qualify for a concealed-weapons permit starting at age 19 instead of 21.

Shooting guns: Counties may no longer prohibit or restrict the legal firing of a gun or use of archery equipment on private property.

Laser pointers: It is now a misdemeanor to knowingly aim a laser pointer at an occupied aircraft. The crime is considered assault if the act renders the pilot unable to safely fly the plane or causes serious injury to anyone on board.

Space flight: Limits a company's liability if a participant signs a liability release agreement and is injured or killed during a space flight.

Nude photos: It is a felony to display or distribute a photo or video of another person in a state of nudity or engaged in specific sexual activities if the subject has not consented to the disclosure.

Lost elderly: The Department of Safety will establish a silver alert notification system, which will issue alerts when a person age 65 or older vanishes under certain circumstances.

Growlers: Microbrewers can now sell growlers made of stainless steel, ceramic or non-porous plastic, in addition to glass.