by Amy Crocker

Another year, another set of legislation goes into effect. The Merced Sun Star has compiled this helpful, alphabetized list of new laws so you can continue to be an upstanding California citizen in 2010.

Among the highlights are a law banning the sale of nitrous "laughing gas" oxide to a minor, a law that allows bicycles with no seats on state roads as long as they were intentionally built that way, and it is now a misdemeanor to cut off a cow's tail unless it is medically necessary.

In more serious uses of our legal system, May 22 was designated as Harvey Milk Day, the Bay Area Toll Authority can now raise tolls on Bay Area bridges to pay for earthquake safety upgrades on the Antioch and Dumbarton bridges, and trans fats are now banned in California restaurants.