TRAVERSE CITY, MI -- A northern Michigan mother's crusade to make driving safer for teens is now complete.
In 2010, Bonnie Raffaele's daughter, Kelsey, was killed in a car accident. She was talking on the phone at the time of the crash.
Bonnie fought for more than a year to prevent tragedies like this from happening in the future.
This month, her efforts paid off when Governor Snyder signed "Kelsey's Law."
The law bans probationary drivers from using a cell phone while driving.
“We see with new drivers so many of the distractions. It use to be just food and maybe the radio...now it is food, radio, cell phones. It’s already illegal to text while driving. This is for probationary drivers only… they are not allowed to use a cell phone in the car,” said Rep. Wayne Schmidt, 104th District.
New laws for 2013 are also aimed at promoting business growth in Michigan.
A package of new laws will reduce personal property taxes, paid by industrial business on equipment like computers and fixtures.
Money generated from personal property taxes goes to local schools and governments.
There is some concern that the tax will not be fully replaced, hurting educators and police departments.
“Money coming in through tax dollars and from the state is dwindling. So the lines cross as far as expenses going up and money we use to operate going down,” said Capt. Matthew Wohlfeill, Cadillac Police Department.
There were dozens of other bills that were signed by the governor this month, but there is one final area we want to highlight. Medical marijuana regulations.
New laws will tighten the definition of what will now be considered a legitimate physician-patient relationship in cases where medical marijuana is prescribed.
There are also multiple changes related to the issuing of medical marijuana registry identification cards, including some id requirements.
These changes alter the voter-approved medical marijuana law from 2008.
