A pundit once wrote that January 1st is the worst time for any new laws to go into effect. People are hungover from the night before and, if they can't remember to put the new date on checks, how are they going to remember to fasten their seatbelts?

A sampling of newspapers from around the country in search of new laws going into effect this time around seems to show that many of the new laws share a common theme. In 2002 young high school-age drivers are going to have a tougher row to hoe.

In Texas, for example, the Houston Chronicle says, "teen-age drivers will lose some freedom, but many driver's lives may be saved..." The Lone Star State is among many phasing in a so-called "graduated driver license." Simply put, the younger you are the more restricted your driving is, mostly bye time of day and who can be in the car with you.

As a driver gets older and is more experienced he or she is allowed more freedom on the road. In Texas drivers under 18 will not be permitted to drive between midnight and 5 a.m. during the first six month of their license. Additionally, the number of friends who may be in the car will be limited. A survey released last year shows that the more teens in a car, the faster the driver goes and the greater the fatality rate. Dares and taunts can be deadly.

EUROPEANS SPENDING 'HIDDEN MONIES'

What would you do if you were told that your current stash of money was going to be worthless in two months, but you had gotten the money "under the table?" You realize that if you turn in big amounts the banks will alert the feds of your attempt at conversion to a new currency. That's what many in Europe are facing with the introduction of the Euro into private hands in just hours.

The New York Times (NYSE:NYT) is reporting that rather than admit they are holding the money -- since banks are required to report large deposits of currently -- many are going on a spending frenzy, hoping to trade their "secret" profits for goods of equal value.

The paper profiles a 28-year-old Spanish insurance agent with thousand of dollars he needs to unload without any noticing. It says he's been on a buying spree, purchasing expensive watches and necklaces. He even made an advance payment on upcoming renovations to his apartment. He says that the first day of the new year is his goal to be "completely of the old cash."

TRADITION OF BOWL GAMES IN TROUBLE

It would seem that before the wise movers and shakes of amateur sports invented the BSC national college ratings system, things were better. At least that's what The Atlanta Journal and Constitution's sportswriter Jeff Schultz thinks. He says he is among many who feel that the ratings -- invented to find a true national champion -- have killed the fun that college football fans used to have when the holiday season came around.

For Schultz many of the pairings for modern-day matchups, such as the Orange, Sugar, Rose and Cotton contests, just don't make sense.

The colorful reporter surmises that the "founding fathers" of the BSC ratings might have hoisted a few too many before committing pen to paper. His suggestion to survive this season's questionable pair-ups ... hoist a few yourself.

NEW STANDARDS FOR AIRPORT BAG CHECKERS

In the wake of the 9/11 attacks the federal government, through the Department of Transportation, has been rethinking airport and other port-of-entry security. In the rush to get more personnel in place at airport checkpoints, new hiring criteria, just announced, would allow persons without a high school diploma to be hired.

The department's head, Norma Mineta, says that anyone who has at least one year's experience in screening baggage with machines will be allowed to serve with experience substituting for a diploma.

The qualifications were released after the Mineta announced that screeners around the country would become "federalized," hired by private security companies, but coordinated as part of a federal security taskforce.