New road safety bills passed by State Senate

From Bayside-Douglaston Patch:

The state Senate has passed three pieces of driver safety legislation sponsored by Sen. Tony Avella, D-Bayside, including one that would result in the suspension of licenses for drivers under 18 years of age who commit certain violations.

One bill would prohibit the use of radar and laser blocking devices in all motor vehicles, while another would incorporate standards for low volume road classification into state highway law.

Avella said the bills are vital to the safety of the state’s drivers. Under current law, penalties imposed on inexperienced drivers for failing to abide by restrictions on the hours new drivers can be on the road as well as the number of passengers they can carry are insufficient in deterring vehicle and traffic law violations, the senator said.

Has problem bodega reformed?

From the Queens Courier:

A city investigation pinned a previously problematic deli grocery store in Briarwood with only one violation after multiple residents complained the store was selling “loosie” cigarettes and packs of smokes to minors.

Community Board 8 filed a complaint against the 84th Deli Grocery to the city’s Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) this April, according to District Manager Marie Adam-Ovide. The store, located at 84th Drive and Manton Street, was formerly Stop & Go before new owners took over in late 2008.

According to a spokesperson for the DCA, the city agency issued one violation for selling loosie cigarettes to an adult during inspections this May, but the store was not found to be selling tobacco to minors.

However, numerous violations for selling alcohol to minors — accumulated since 2006 under previous owners — did cause the New York State Liquor Authority to revoke the deli’s liquor license in November 2009, records showed.

The store — which no longer sells alcohol — has stayed out of trouble for the most part since then, said manager Mohammed Ahmed.

Ahmed, who worked for a couple of months under the former owners, said he makes sure his employees always ask for proper identification to avoid repeating problems of the past.

Minors barred from smoking hookah

From the Queens Chronicle:

State legislation barring minors from hookah smoking or buying hookah-related products went into effect on Jan. 1, after Gov. Cuomo signed the bill into law last July.

The legislation regulates a product and business trade that until now has gone largely unregulated.

Hookahs are waterpipes traditionally used in Middle Eastern countries for smoking “shisha,” a fruity, herbal substance that can contain tobacco. Hookah bars and shops selling hookah products are prevalent throughout New York and Queens.

Regulating hookah smoking became a hot-button issue in recent years after the practice experienced a surge in popularity, especially among young people.

Many believe smoking shisha is less harmful than tobacco, or that smoking tobacco through a waterpipe is better for you than smoking cigarettes. But a 2005 study from the World Health Organization found that hookah smoking carries the same health risks as cigarette smoking.

Hookah smoking is popular in many neighborhoods, including Astoria. Hookah lounges and shops line Steinway Street, from 25th to 28th avenues.

“People do say there’s no tobacco in it,” said Sheelah Feinberg, the director of the NYC Coalition for a Smoke-Free City. Regardless, she added, “there’s so many chemicals that go into it, that [it] harms your lung system.”