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Timm Herdt blogs on politics and Ventura County in a presidential election year.
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SACRAMENTO — As the new year begins in California and most of the 750 new laws enacted in 2007 take effect, there's good news for kids, pets, horse-racing jockeys and fans of old-fashioned rock 'n' roll.

For driving scofflaws, bicyclists without lights and retailers who have been lax about checking IDs of those who buy cigarettes, things change for the worse beginning today.

Minimum-wage workers also benefit today as the second phase of a 2006 law kicks in, lifting their pay to $8 an hour from $7.25.

And for everyone who has a cell phone and a driver's license, the countdown begins toward two significant laws that will kick in on July 1 — a ban on the use of cell phones while driving by those under 18, and a requirement that adults who talk on the phone while driving use hands-free phone equipment.

Here's a rundown of some of the laws that took effect at midnight:

Smoke-free cars: SB7 by Sen. Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach, makes it illegal to smoke in a car if there is a child inside. A violation is punishable by a fine of up to $100 for what is categorized as a secondary offense, which means an officer may not pull over a vehicle for the sole purpose of citing someone for violating this law.

A citation can be issued only if someone is pulled over for some other reason and found to have been smoking with a child present.

Advocates, including the American Lung Association, say the concentration of secondhand smoke inside a car can be 10 times greater than the level the Environmental Protection Agency considers hazardous to human health.

Pet protective orders: SB 353 by Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, allows a judge to include in a protective order issued in a domestic violence case the right of one party to retain possession of a pet and to forbid the other party to come near the animal.

Raises for jockeys: These diminutive athletes make most of their money when they collect a share of the prize money when their mounts finish first, second or third. But in races where their mounts finish out of the top three, they receive a minimum of just $33. AB649 by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, raises that minimum by $10.

Truth in music: AB 702 by Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-Pasadena, prohibits performers from staging "oldies" concerts and billing themselves as the group that originally recorded the tunes unless at least one of the performers was a member of the group and has a legal right to use the group's name. Otherwise, the concert must be promoted as a "salute" or "tribute" to the original recording artists.

Traffic violators: Judges can no longer allow those convicted of very serious driving offenses, such as reckless driving and fleeing the scene of a traffic accident, to have those violations expunged from their records by attending traffic school. AB645 by Assemblyman Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles, would require that those violations stay on the driver's record, which would result in having to pay higher insurance rates and also put them at risk for having their driver's licenses suspended if they commit future traffic infractions.

Illuminated bicyclists: AB478 by Assemblywoman Lois Wolk, D-Davis, requires bicyclists riding after dark on sidewalks in cities where bikes are permitted there to have functioning lights and reflectors. A previous law already required lights and reflectors for bicycles operating on streets after dark. The new law also allows bicyclists to wear reflectors on their shoes or ankles in lieu of having reflectors on the pedals.

Cigarette sales: Local police departments and other law enforcement agencies are now permitted to enforce laws against selling cigarettes to minors, a responsibility that was previously the exclusive purview of the state Department of Public Health. SB624 by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, also doubles the fines for a first violation, to between $400 and $600.

Domestic partners: AB 102 by Ma allows one or both partners, at the time of obtaining a registered domestic partnership or marriage license, to legally change their names by completing a form on the document. They may choose the last name of one of the partners, a name that combines their two last names or a hyphenated name.

Phthalates: AB 1108 by Ma prohibits the use of phthalates, a chemical used to give added flexibility to plastics, in toys or other products designed for use by children 3 years old or younger.

Certificate of still birth: SB 850, by Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, and Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana, requires county registrars to provide a certificate of still birth to parents who have lost a fetus beyond the 20th week of gestation.

Gift cards: SB 250 by Sen. Ellen Corbett, D-Santa Rosa, allows consumers to redeem for cash gift cards with less than $10 value remaining.

Kangaroo parts: SB 880 by Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, repeals an existing state prohibition on the importation into California of products containing kangaroo parts.

High school exam: AB 347 by Assemblyman Pedro Nava, D-Santa Barbara, requires school districts to provide up to two years of additional instruction to any 12th-grader who has not yet passed the high school exit exam. The law implements an agreement that was part of the settlement of a lawsuit filed against the state.