by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB
Roanoke Times Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: TUESDAY, February 11, 1992 TAG: 9202110283 SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO SOURCE: DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
DEAF JURORS: The House killed, 54-40, a bill to prohibit the exclusion of a person from jury duty solely on the basis of deafness.\ \ LODGING TAX: The House gave preliminary approval to a bill that would change Roanoke County's charter to permit an increase in the hotel and motel room tax from 2 percent to 4 percent.\ \ DRIVER'S LICENSE SUSPENSION: The House Courts of Justice Committee voted 16-4 to endorse a bill to allow the immediate, seven-day suspension of the driver's license of a person arrested for drunken driving.\ \ LOADED GUNS: The Senate passed, 24-16, a bill to make it illegal to carry loaded firearms in public in cities with populations exceeding 160,000 and in Northern Virginia counties. State law already prohibits carrying such weapons in public in Norfolk, Virginia Beach and other cities with populations of more than 200,000.\ \ OUT-OF-STATE LOTTERIES: The House gave tentative approval to a bill to make it illegal for companies to take orders for out-of-state lottery tickets.\ ELECTORAL VOTES: The House gave preliminary approval to a bill to replace the state's winner-take-all award of electoral votes presidential elections with a split vote based on congressional districts. The bill would give two electoral votes to the candidate that carries the state and one additional vote to that candidate for each congressional district he or she carries. The losing candidate would receive one electoral vote for each congressional district he or she carries.\ \ POLICE SCANNERS: The House gave preliminary approval to a bill to make it a misdemeanor to have or use a police scanner when committing a felony.\ \ GOAT MILK: The House passed, 86-14, a bill to allow on-farm sales of small quantities of unpasteurized goat milk.\ \ PUBLIC SMOKING: The House passed, 87-10, a bill to clarify enforcement of the law restricting public smoking.\ \ CLEANER CAR EXHAUST: The Senate Transportation Committee tabled until 1993 a bill to require low-emissions cars in Northern Virginia by the late 1990s.\ \ DRUNKEN DRIVING: The Senate voted 40-0 to pass a bill lowering the blood alcohol content required for a drunken driving conviction from .10 to .05 for drivers of commercial vehicles.