» Expansion of substance abuse coverage
» Creation of a delegation to examine the accuracy of physician-rating systems
» Requirement that commercial and workers’ compensation insurers notify policyholders of increases in premiums
The new year will bring higher Dulles Toll Road fees to Virginia, speed cameras and iPod insurance to Maryland, and a bag tax and increased parking fees to D.C., as new laws are enacted across the region Friday.
Dulles Toll Road rates will increase to $1 at the main toll plaza and 75 cents at the on- and offramps Friday.
The 25-cent increase is the first of several planned over the next two years to help fund the Metrorail extension to Washington Dulles International Airport and Loudoun County.
Maryland drivers won’t see any toll increases in the new year, but Prince George’s County drivers can expect $40 tickets if they speed through school zones.
Speed cameras are slated for installment in at least 50 school zones in the county within the next several months, following legislation effective Monday.
And starting Friday, Maryland residents can buy insurance for their cell phones, iPods and other portable electronics. The law allows consumers to purchase coverage from electronics sellers for the loss or theft of their gadgets.
The optional insurance is meant to cover electronics not already protected by a comparable warranty.
In the District, shoppers at grocery, drug and liquor stores will pay a 5-cent tax on every disposable paper or plastic bag they use starting Friday. The fee targets the estimated 360 million bags the District discards each year — many of which end up clogging the Anacostia River — according to the legislation.
To help prepare shoppers for the bag overhaul, Giant and Safeway stores will hand out free recyclable bags — which typically cost 99 cents — at locations across the District.
The D.C. government also has been distributing free reusable sacks at community and senior centers, said Charles Allen, chief of staff for D.C. Councilman Tommy Wells, author of the legislation.
“It will take time for everyone to get used to this, so we will constantly be providing the bags” over the next couple of months, Allen said.
D.C. drivers will also be hit with new parking fees this year.
Beginning Friday, drivers must pay to park downtown Saturdays and until 10:30 p.m. every other day. And the District is raising rates for nearly 15,000 parking spaces to $2 an hour this month.
