Beginning on Jan. 1, 2025, a slew of new laws will take effect in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, ranging from traffic laws to changes to the minimum wage.
Though residents and commuters will have several new rules to remember and follow later this week, not every approved piece of legislation is straightforward. Here are the primary ways the DMV will look different starting on Wednesday.
Washington, D.C.
Two significant laws are going into effect on Wednesday, including one banning drivers from turning right at a red light.
The law will take effect this week, but a Washington Post report from November found that the District Department of Transportation had not allocated funds to warn drivers of the change, which could make it difficult to enforce. There will still be places where drivers may make a right on red, but those intersections will have a sign indicating that drivers may do that.
Another law taking effect in the district is one requiring retailers to accept cash as a form of payment. In recent years, many businesses have gone cashless, but D.C. officials argue this creates discrimination against those who do not hold bank accounts or have credit or debit cards.
Beginning on Wednesday, most retail businesses will be required to accept cash. The law included exceptions for online businesses and some places that sell alcohol, which had expressed concerns about the law creating an increased risk of robbery.
Virginia
In the Old Dominion, one of the most prominent changes to state law will be an increase in the minimum wage. The minimum wage in Virginia will go from $12.00 to $12.41 on Wednesday, putting it more than $5 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25.
Another change to the law in the commonwealth pertains to protections under the Virginia Human Rights Act. Effective Wednesday, ethnic origin will be a protected class, alongside race, religion, and sex, among other classes.
Law in Virginia will also require that data controllers may only collect personal data that are “reasonably necessary in relation to the purposes for which such data is processed,” beginning on Wednesday.
Maryland
In the Old Line State, one of the most prominent new laws will increase safety protections for road workers.
The Maryland Road Worker Protection Act, which takes effect Wednesday, will increase the use of speed cameras at work sites and increase penalties for traffic law violations in work zones on the road.
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Other laws going into effect include requiring hospitals to follow specific procedures when treating an opioid emergency and new requirements for security guards’ licenses in the state.
The law regarding security guards will mandate that businesses or people who have security guards register them online and provide proof of insurance with the state.
