Texting While Driving is Unsafe and Unlawful After July 1
DUI Punishments Also Enhanced

RICHMOND - Virginians who send text messages or emails while driving after July 1 will be violating the law and will face a $20 fine.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles' (DMV) Virginia Highway Safety Office encourages motorists to avoid distractions, such as texting while driving. Last year, 28,395 crashes occurred in the Commonwealth involving driver distraction. Of those, 114 people died and 14,480 were injured.

The new law banning texting and emailing passed by the General Assembly has several exceptions including emergency vehicle operators, drivers reporting an emergency or a driver who is parked. Also, texting while driving is a secondary offense, meaning a law enforcement officer must have a different reason to stop or arrest the driver. The fine is $20 for a first offense and $50 for a second offense.

Other than making texting while driving against the law, the legislature also made the criteria stricter for requiring an ignition interlock device. Beginning July 1, if a motorist is convicted of driving while intoxicated for the second time within 10 years, the person must install an ignition interlock system on all the vehicles they own or co-own to obtain restricted driving privileges during the three-year revocation, or full driving privileges at the end of the revocation period. The timeframe used to be five years, not 10.

An ignition interlock is a device installed onto a car's dashboard. Before the vehicle's motor can be started, the driver first must exhale into the device. If their breath-alcohol concentration is greater than the programmed alcohol concentration - usually 0.02 or 0.04 percent - the vehicle will not start.

In a related move, the legislature also passed a law explaining the punishments for people who are caught driving without the ignition interlock device when it is ordered by DMV. After July 1, violators will be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and may have their driver's license revoked for one year. The punishments for conviction of a Class 1 misdemeanor include jail time for up to a year and a fine of up to $2,500.

The General Assembly also passed a law related to traffic safety that impacts safety courses for drivers age 55 and older. After July 1, crash prevention courses may be offered online to these drivers if the company offering the class is approved by DMV. In addition, insurance companies may allow a reduction in premium charges to drivers 55 and older who successfully complete a crash prevention course via the Internet or other electronic means.

https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/webdoc/safety/news/news.asp?id=5558

The fines need to be greater than that. A teen here just had an accident because he was answering a text. He ended up 350 feet off the road. He suffered major facial damage. Luckily, he was alone and noone else was injured

Well, it is a thing to be admired. Texting and talking a phone should be outlawed, but just twenty dollars?? Phhhffftt... a drop in the bucket...not a deterent.
Drinking and driving should be punished harshly.There are other states that have outlawed it as well, I mean texting and talking on the phone while driving. But in all honesty..drinking and driving is against the law and many get away with it over and over.

kat

Good to hear it.The only thing u should do is drive.All the other stuff just do some other time.

$20?? isn't that the same fine as those people parking on gravel driveways??? that's insane....people are at risk when drivers (who some are bad enough when they concentrate) are using the phone

f**ked up world I tell ya

its already illegal here.for like a year or so now

Does it actually stop anyone, though? Talking on cell phones while driving is illegal in DC, but it never seems to stop anyone.

only on the days barney fife had his coffee and donuts...and feels like working...

--other than that nope.

And, it is a secondary offense, they cannot pull someone over for texting if they are driving legally. And they can only ticket if there is "clear evidence" that texting was occuring while the first infraction was being committed. And, they cannot request to see your cell phone, unless they issue you a summons wherein they can then request your cell phone records. Drop your phone in your purse or bag and tada, no evidence. So, in essence, the law while being good in spirit is thoroughly pointless.

that is what they said about seat belts (in the beginning)

now what is the national catch phrase

CLICK IT OR TICKET

and it should be a secondary offense just cause driver (a) can not text does not mean driver (b) cant safely ---- if it does not case erratic driving then they are not endangering any one

Any use of a cell phone should be banned while driving unless it is hands free. Years ago I almost rear ended a car while I was on the phone and now I just pull over or wait and return the call later. Every day I see someone driving stupid and it is almost always someone who is talking on their cell phone.

some people can do more than one thing at a time

maybe you should not be able to change the cd or cassette tape while you are driving neither

There's no need to be yapping away on the phone or texting while driving. As you can see from the way people drive, many people can't handle doing both.

Yeah, some problems have become so evident to everyone that the lawmakers don't even need a push. Anyone that drives is aware of this one.

In Chicago...you can't even talk on your cell phone while driving...they'll give you a ticket...not sure how much the fine is...but...knowing Mayor Daley...I'm guessin' $100.00...