New state laws target gambling winners

WASHINGTON, July 1 (UPI) -- A bevy of new U.S. state laws are took effect Tuesday, including some aimed at financial scofflaws who get lucky playing the lottery or the ponies.

Those laws, which came into effect at the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1, were passed in Iowa and Colorado and are the first of their kind in the nation, Stateline.org, a Washington news Web site, reported. The Iowa measure targets residents who are delinquent on tax payments and who win at least $10,000 from casino slot machines or at racetracks. Their winnings will be seized to pay back taxes, court debts an other expenses.

In Colorado, meanwhile, deadbeat parents are in the cross hairs. There, the state has introduced a first-of-its-kind law targeting those who are behind in their child support payments, demanding winnings from slots of more than $1,200 and from racetracks of more than $600.

Another batch of new state laws target cell phone users, Stateline.org reported. For instance, it became illegal Tuesday in California and Washington to drive while operating a hand-held cell phone. Those states are following the lead of a handful of other states that ban holding a cell phone but allow headsets.