Happy New Year! Now Give Up Your Cigarettes, Plastic Bags and Shark Fins

With the dawning of the new year, cities across the country are also getting a lot of new laws, as long planned changes in public policy on everything from fireworks sales to tobacco use to texting while driving finally go into effect.

You may have long since forgotten that your city council or state legislature voted on these bills and ordinances months ago (and, of course, it’s hardly fair to expect you to remember to bring your own carry-out bag to the grocery store in San Jose if you happen to have a New Year’s hangover).