Passenger Restrictions: 

For the first 6 months after receiving a junior license, the teen driver will not be permitted to have more than 1 passenger under age 18 who is not an immediate family member, unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.  After 6 months, they may have up to 3 passengers under age 18, provided they haven't received any violations or been responsible for an accident (partially or fully).  These restrictions apply until the teen driver turns 18.

 Behind-The-Wheel Training: 

Increased from 50 to 65 hours of supervised, behind-the-wheel training required for permit-holders under age 18.  10 of the added hours are for nighttime driving and 5 are for poor weather conditions.

Seatbelt Requirements: 

For teen drivers and passengers under age 18, the lack of wearing a seatbelt is now a primary offense.  This means the driver can be solely pulled over for that violation.  The fine for conviction is $75.00. 

The bill is known as "Lacey's Law".  It is named after Lacey Gallagher, 18, from the Philadelphia Area, who was killed in a car crash on April 28, 2007.  She was a passenger in an SUV with six other teens.  All of the other teens were injured; none wore seat belts.

Just when you thought you had it all covered, along comes a new risk exposure! This time, it could be something as seemingly innocuous as your teenage kid upstairs tweeting about a classmate. Believe it or not, you could be one nasty slanderous 144-character tweet away from a costly personal injury lawsuit...unless you have a personal injury endorsement on your homeowner's or renter's insurance policy.

Think your standard homeowner's insurance policy covers personal injuries? Think again. Standard homeowner's coverage has your back for bodily injury and property damages that don't involve an automobile or aren't business-related.   

However, the typical homeowner's insurance policy does not cover personal injury issues - which can include stuff like false arrest, wrongful eviction or entry, invasion or violation of privacy, and yes, slander and defamation. But add a personal liability endorsement, and your homeowner's coverage extends to any emotional damages you might be sued for. Typically, such an endorsement will also pay the legal costs of defending yourself in the event of a law suit.

Be advised that a personal injury endorsement does not give you license to say, write or post nasty stuff about other people. Like all insurance, a personal injury endorsement will likely have a list of exclusions and limitations attached to it. It may not extend to business or non-personal activities, for example, such as posting a derogatory comment on your home business website or hobby-related blog. Intent matters, too. If you knew what you were doing was wrong or inaccurate, your personal injury endorsement may not cover you. Ditto on any activity that is flat out illegal. And, like all insurance, personal injury endorsements only cover activity that occurred after the policy went into effect and while the policy is still effective. Coverage isn't retroactive and it ends the day your policy expires. 

In the realm of costs, a personal injury endorsement is a cheap addition to your homeowners' or renter's policy - unlikely to add more than a few dollars a year to your premium.