No texting behind the wheel starting today
No more texting while driving. No more loitering on bridges. And no more smoking in many restaurants.
These are but a few of the 879 bills that were passed into law this last General Assembly session, according to the Virginia Legislative Information System. They're due for effect July 1.
On March 30, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine signed into law a prohibition against reading or typing text messages while driving. The offense is secondary, however. That means police may only issue citations if they apprehend the driver for another offense, like speeding or failing to stop for a red light. First time offenders are issued tickets for $20; after that, the charge for the offense is $50.
On March 9, Kaine signed into law the Indoor Clean Air Act, establishing a statewide ban on smoking in restaurants. However, certain facilities are exempt from the ban. For instance, patrons may still smoke in "a restaurant that is constructed in such a manner that areas where smoking may be permitted are structurally separated from the portion of the restaurant in which smoking is prohibited and such areas are separately vented," according to the text of the legislation.
And on March 27, Kaine approved H.B. 1629, giving "counties the same authority as cities and towns to prohibit loitering on bridges … and on highway rights-of-way," the text reads. The county must first obtain the permission from the Commonwealth Transportation Commission to place signs against loitering on the specific bridges or rights-of-way. Violators, according to the new law, "shall be guilty of a traffic infraction."
Several new environmental rules and provisions are set for a July 1 implementation date, too. On the allowance side—meaning, these are new carrots localities have in their possession— local governments have permission to offer incentives for developers to construct green roofs and to establish historical areas for preservation purposes. On the rule side—these are the new sticks localities can wield—local governments can require developers to show in their application package how they will preserve these historical sites.
Also new:
n Nonresidents of Virginia may now foxhunt in training preserves, provided they pay $12 for a license. The previous law only gave nonresidents the ability to foxhunt in shooting preserves.
n It's a Class 3 misdemeanor to "willfully and intentionally impede someone who has obtained a kill permit from killing a bear or deer that is damaging the owner's property," according to the text of the new law.
n Students who skip school and have 10 or more unexcused absences in a row could see their driver's licenses suspended.
n Dove hunters don't have to wear blazing orange clothing any longer.
n Doctors' offices can't charge for copies of medical bills any more—at least, for those patients who request copies less than three times a year.
nAnd payday lenders can't charge more than 36 percent interest for unsecured loans.
That last—the prohibition on pay day lending—was emergency legislation that went into effect the day the governor signed it into law, April 8.
n Pertinent specifically to Prince William are two new laws that allow the Circuit Court clerk to start a pilot program to assess fees for land records, and the county government to prohibit the on-street parking of trucks more than 20 feet in length. This parking provision does not apply to commercial vehicles, however.
Staff writer Cheryl Chumley can be reached at 703-670-1907.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
1988 guy blew a stop sign messing with his cell phone. Totaled our truck. Sent both of us to hospital in an ambulance. It took 5 hours for them to release me for various reasons.
That is more than 20 years ago. To say doing anything other than paying attention to your driving is safe, is an accident waiting to happen. If you have gotten away with it so far, consider yourself lucky.
Because someone felt they had it under control, we were not that lucky.
Back in the mid nineties I was attending a “driver improvement” class after getting a speeding ticket. One of the other people in the class was a young woman who was in the class, in her words, because she was cited for misdemeanor reckless driving for she was driving with cup of coffee in her hand and had trouble shifting gears. I’m sure the story as told from other points of view was full of hilarity.
She was indignant about it, didn’t understand why she was having to waste her Saturday in this class, etc. The instructor (a state trooper) and a woman from the DMV who was observing the class, both told her to STFU because, according to them, driving while doing anything else was both unsafe and reckless.
But that was before the US enacted the 28th amendment, which guarantees to the rights of the people to permanently attach a cell phone to their ear. I can’t seem to find any reference to such an amendment but judging by most people’s behavior I’m sure it must exist…
Whatever did we do without cell phones?
Yogi - No disrespect and your points are well taken but you lose your right to privacy if you are observed breaking the law. Texting is the preferred choice of communication among young adults reguardless if they are capable of hands on or off communication. Texting is obviouly the most dangerous act of all since it is done the most frequent. I agree most acts that cause driver inattentiveness is unacceptable.
Like I said earlier, why bother.
So if I read this right, “texting” is now illegal while driving but “sexting” isn’t.
Yes it seems odd that they would single out reading or sending text messages apart from general cell phone usage (handsfree excepted of course). Both are dangerous to do while driving.
Ironically, I see police offers using the cell phone and driving all the time on duty. I don’t care if they are or are not texting. IT’S DANGEROUS. DON’T DO IT.
Texting??? What about reading a map, reading directions on an invitation, putting on makeup, typing on a computer on the passenger seat, reading a book…I could go on. What we need is a common sense class with the driving classes. And for driving classes mandatory every 3 years for EVERYONE!
New texting law—Too little and too late. Should be a primary reckless driving offense for any use of a cell phone. Perhaps increase increase the penalty for drivers of SUV’s and trucks.
Wonderful. 879 more things that I have no way to know about that I can be busted for doing. And they keep stacking them on every July 1st.
Before long they can just publish a list of the ten or twelve things that are left that aren’t illegal.
In reply to Yogi “are not committing any offenses of driving behavior, isn’t that invading their privacy?“
Please don’t take offense but that is like saying if they are drinking a beer and haven’t shown any offenses while driving is that an invasion of privacy?
Texting is an “active” process versus “passive” like listening to the radio. Some things in life I value more than the ability to send or recieve a message while driving. My son for one comes to mind and because of the accident “statistics” of young drivers who are also the largest “texters” is why it will cost me 2000 more per year to insure him when he gets his license.
Advertisement