This is not to say that there are no revels though both other states and other countries and individual jurisdictions within.
The definition of a "Nanny State" is governmental policies of over-protectionism, economic interventionism, or heavy regulation of economic, social or other nature.
The subjective term nanny state is typically used pejoratively, expressing an anxiety that these policies are being institutionalized as common practice. Opponents of such policies use the term in their advocacy against what they consider to be uninvited and damaging state intervention. Large amounts of jobs might be at risk causing a greater burden on public funding.
Controversial and highly debated, Nanny Laws are laws that are designed to protect us from ourselves. Some are welcomed while others are frown upon. Selective and unequal enforcement is an quite an issue. Some of these are little know vague and often neglected in general population. Sometimes a local authority may use it as an excuse for profiling distracting them from real duties that actually benefit the public. Also as states complain of deficits and funding problems it would look into these to be revenue generators by initiating a ticketing blitz instead of correcting its own problems first.
One would wonder why California facing a $26 billion deficit much higher than any state in the union as well as heaps of problems with its legislative systems are sweating the small stuff.
Frivolous legislation is not without its consequences. Dealing with excessively vague letters of these frivolous laws would also cause distractions in the court system making it harder to enforce existing legislations and hinders investigations in courts. Also greedy lawyers may also use it as a opportunity for lawsuit abuse. Also it would detract officers from doing their real jobs or used to harass citizens to meet a quota when funding is low allowing dangerous criminals to run lose.
Take California for example
Seatbelt enforcement becomes primary in 1994
Bicycle helmets mandatory for all youth 18 and under
Expanded to include other wheeled recreational items such as Scooters and skateboards in 2000.
Helmets for snowboarding or skiing or other snow sports where proposed.
In car smoking ban if youth up to eighteen is involved. Even in ones own property and not technically in public.
Three strikes law in 1995 among the toughest in the nation consequentially resulting in overcrowded prisons and releasing dangerous criminals onto street.
The use of Tanning beds banned for those under 18 in 2012
Handheld cell phone driving ban 2008
Starting 2005 windshild wipers cannot be operated in continuous mode with headlights off
In 2007 Carbon monoxide detectors required in newly built homes.
Rushes to including ban all electronic device use by youth a few months later
Texting ban when driving 2009
2011 Carbon Monoxide detectors required even in existing homes not just newly built/renovated homes
2011 tightened child safety seat law to eight years old.
2011 Shark fin soap ban
Failed bills
SB105 Helmets for snow sports
AB1998 statewide plastic bag ban (This is really not the proper environmental approach for many reasons) While it is argued that the California Grocers Association supports the measure the only reason is that grocery chains are complaining the patchwork of city to city difference in plastic ordinances is too confusing and difficult for their franchise to operate so they would like one uniform rule for all grocery stores in the state thereby eliminating the confusion.
Possible Bills to come
SB432 ban flat sheets in hotels
AB889 would require parents who hire non parent Babysitter, nannys, housekeepers, and caregivers to a long list of red tape and special rules regarding compensation and vacation pay time. Hard to believe many workers have little compensations and vacation time yet the state turns a blind eye on them yet focuses on babysitters, nannies, and house caregivers first.
These are just the bills issued by the state adminstration. There are plenty more even more invasive local ordinances all across the state. Ordinances on use of fireplaces, plastic bags, styrofoam, and even circumcision as the case in San Francisco and much much more are coming to cities and counties all over the state.
In conclusion politicians should really use common sense and and listen to the people to and explain properly the details to make people understand what the bills are about and negotiate with the population to work something out. This means they should listen to all of the public inputs not solely listen to the big corporations or insurance companies. In fact they should protect to common people from being abused from corporations such as big oil and banks especially with what happened with the mortgage crisis. Otherwise California and other so called republics would just be fascist and no better than former East Germany Soviet Union, North Korea, or many other failed states.
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