Texting ban advances but Gov. McDonnell has concerns
RICHMOND – The General Assembly has a message for drivers: keep your hands on the wheel and off your smart phone’s qwerty keyboard.
That was again conveyed Friday when a Virginia Senate committee advanced compromise legislation to make fines for texting while driving more expensive and allow police to stop a driver for the offense.
Legislation from Del. Rich Anderson, R-Prince William County, would create first offense fines of $250 for texting or e-mailing on a handheld communication device; subsequent offenses would carry a $500 fine.
Additionally, his HB 1907 would mandate a minimum $500 fine for people convicted of reckless driving who also violate the tougher texting law.
And it would allow police to stop motorists for such violations.
Texting policy added to Virginia law in 2009 – Del. John Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake, carried the bill – makes violations a secondary offense so police can’t stop motorists solely for that reason but can cite people pulled over for other infractions.
The current penalties are a $20 fine for the first offense and $50 for subsequent violations.
Anderson’s bill was approved on a 8-6 vote in the Senate Courts of Justice Committee.
The panel last week endorsed similar legislation from Sens. Tommy Norment, R-James City County, and George Barker, D-Fairfax County.
The Senate already approved that measure 24-15 and it’s now moving through the House of Delegates, which already passed Anderson’s bill.
Since Anderson’s bill is likewise proceeding in the Senate, both bills appear headed to Gov. Bob McDonnell’s desk.
A spokesman for the governor said McDonnell will review the legislation when he receives it, noting he has some misgivings about the concept.
“He does continue to have concerns about beginning to list more specific activities that are prohibited while driving,” Tucker Martin said of the governor.
Safe driving advocates maintain that texting while driving is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving a motorist can engage in.
-Julian Walker, The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot
February 15, 2013 - 10:49 AM
Texting while driving, and really almost any use of a cell phone while driving, is incredibly dangerous. I cannot tell you how many very close calls I’ve had with drivers either face down on their phone, or phone held to ear, completely oblivious to the world outside of their seat…not realizing their 4000 pound boulder on wheels is not being properly controlled and nearly striking other vehicles around them.
How about eating,listening to the radio,combing your hair,makeup,attending babies. All are distractions.Just more baloney by a group that passes hundreds of bogus laws per year.
Any use of a hand held device while driving should be illegal with stiff fines for those who do. There’s a reason it’s already illegal in a lot of other states. I’m so tired of people cutting me off, trying to move into my lane while I’m there, and on and on, only to look over and see them yapping on their phone completely oblivious to anyone else. Just the other day, I was at a stop light in the lane to go straight, a lady next to me in the right turn lane. When the light turned green, she tried to proceed straight, even though her lane didn’t go through, she nearly ran me into oncoming traffic. I looked over and she was clueless to what she had done, busy talking on her phone. It’s crazy.
Why don’t we outlaw cars? I mean really, eating, drinking, texting, phones, reading,and police using radio ……. There are times when you can do these safely while driving …… the government will always find new ways to control risky behavior at the expense of freedom…. FREEDOM IS NOT RISK FREE and those who believe that the government should should protect them from everything will get the tyrannical government they deserve.