Florida - a shining star when it comes to some of the most weird and funny news headlines in the country. If we're talking state laws, though, it could be worse (hello, Texas), but in the past few months the state's enacted a slew of legislation ranging from the surprisingly useful to utterly incomprehensible sure to affect many who both visit and call the Sunshine State home.
The most buzzed about is probably the recent legislation - colloquially deemed the "bong ban"- which aimed to ban the sale of pipes bongs as well as penalize anyone for mere possession of drug paraphernalia when it was first introduced to the Florida legislature by St. Pete representative, Daryl Rouson.
But, once it was passed, the bill was hardly the same as it started. With the push from a new Florida pipe lobby, there was virtually no change made to the pre-existing law when it comes to the sale and possession of of paraphernalia in Florida.
Another recently passed law in Florida will now punish any motorist in the left lane who's traveling more than 10 miles below the posted speed limit with a fine of $60 and a three-point moving violation. This surely comes as a relief and surprisingly sensible law for those (i.e. all of us) who can't stand those dreadfully slow cars in the left lane.
Unfortunately, this sensibility doesn't extend to all of Florida's recently-passed laws. Earlier this month, Florida lawmakers voted to ban all internet cafes - increasingly common spots for online gambling - but the bill was worded so poorly that it technically banned all computers and smart phones in the state. Now, a leading Miami internet cafe owner is suing the state, amongst other reasons, because the law "can be applied to any computer or device connected to the Internet" according to the Miami Herald.
What do you think about the most recent laws passed in Florida? Let us know in the comments below.
