HARRISBURG, PA (WSKG) -- As 2018 turned to 2019, a bunch of new laws took effect in Pennsylvania.
For one, a new year in the commonwealth wouldn't be complete these days without an increase to turnpike tolls.
They went up six percent at the start of the year--the eleventh straight increase.
Harsher penalties for drunk driving are now on the books too. Third-time offenders with blood alcohol levels at or above 0.16 now face felony charges.
Another new bill, which kicked in after Christmas, is a so-called "Clean Slate" measure. It's designed to get people back into the workforce after convictions, automatically sealing records for summary offenses and non-violent misdemeanors after 10 years.
There is also a new law protecting child victims of human trafficking. Under it, these children can't be prosecuted. It also creates a new victim services fund for them.