Starting Jan. 1, ­several new laws will kick in across the state, including “the Safe Harbor Act,” which is aimed at better protecting kids who might be victims of sexual abuse; along with new legislation that no longer makes it illegal for motorists to flash their headlights to warn other drivers that police are lurking somewhere ahead.

While neither the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office nor the Punta Gorda Police Department have been writing citations for motorists who flash their headlights in advance of speed zones, one thing to which local drivers might want to pay attention is forthcoming changes in Florida’s Personal Injury Protection law, which governs basic insurance needs for motorists.