New Indiana laws on guns, booze, driving take effect

The latest batch of Indiana laws takes effect Thursday, with new provisions raising the age at which teenagers can get driver's
licenses and requiring ID checks for everyone buying alcohol.

Perhaps the most controversial new measure allows workers to keep guns locked in their vehicles while parked on their employers'

property. Businesses will no longer be able to prohibit workers from keeping firearms in a locked trunk or glove compartment
or out of sight in their locked car. The law includes exemptions for schools, prisons and other facilities.

Bill supporters say gun owners have rights under the Second Amendment and the Indiana Constitution to bring guns to work.
But opponents—including the Indiana Chamber of Commerce—say the law could lead to workplace violence and believe
businesses have a right to ban firearms in their parking lots and buildings.

Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar said many businesses prohibit employees from bringing guns to work because businesses
are charged with providing a safe working environment. Brinegar said chamber members who oppose the new prohibitions have
discussed challenging the law in court, arguing that their rights as business owners should trump the Second Amendment.

"What we really have is a clash of constitutional rights," Brinegar said.

Another new firearms law prevents the public from accessing gun permit records. Currently, information such as the names
of people with permits to carry handguns is public record. The new law makes that data private, although police will still
have access.

"The individual rights of citizens who have licenses to carry concealed weapons are more important than public access
to that information," Rep. Peggy Welch, D-Bloomington, said in a statement.

Another new law allows residents to submit voter registration forms online. The secretary of state's office says Indiana
will be the eighth state to offer online registration, and that other states offering online registration have seen a 60 to
70 percent shift away from paper applications.

Online registration "helps local election administrators better serve voters and should cut their costs, all while enhancing
accessibility, accuracy and security," Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita said in a statement.

Citizens must have a valid Indiana driver's license or state-issued ID card to use the online form at www.indianavoters.com.

Once the online form is submitted, the registrant's information is cross-checked with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and
the county voter registration office will approve or reject registrations based on the same criteria as mailed or in-person
applications.

A teen driving law requires drivers with learner's permits to get 50 hours of supervised driving experience—10
of those hours at night—before getting a driver's license.

The law raises the minimum age for drivers, and the minimum ages are different depending on whether a student takes driver's
education classes. Those who do will be able to get a learner's permit at 15 years and six months—instead of the
current 15 years—and a probationary license at 16 years and six months instead of the current 16 years and one month.

Teens who don't take drivers ed can get a learner's permit at age 16 and a probationary license at 16 years and nine
months.

Also, Indiana residents who want to buy alcohol must show proof of age no matter how old they are. The law requires stores
to check a photo ID for anyone purchasing alcohol. The rule applies to liquor and convenience stores, pharmacies, and supermarkets
but not to restaurants, bars and other businesses where patrons consume alcohol onsite.

Another new law aims to get more people to pay child support they owe. Welfare recipients could risk losing their benefits
if they don't cooperate with prosecutors trying to collect child support, and casinos will withhold winnings from those
who are behind on child support payments.

Other new laws encourage teenagers to donate blood and allow securities fraud victims to recover some of their losses through
a new fund.