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What About Hands-Free Cell Phones in Virginia?
Question and comment from an NVRC News reader after reading about the new Text Messaging law: Did Virginia pass legislation for users of cell phones requiring hands free devices? I think sometimes these people are oblivious and a bigger nuisance on the roads.
Answer found at http://handsfreeinfo.com:
Virginia: Cell phone laws, legislation
Cell phone, text messaging news: A ban on text messaging goes into effect July 1. All legislation regarding handheld cell phones is dead for 2009.
Current prohibitions:
Drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using cell phones or text messaging.
All drivers will be banned from text messaging effective July 1.
School bus drivers are prohibited from using cell phones or text messaging
2009 legislation:
HB 1876: Will prohibit text messaging while operating a motor vehicle. Takes effect July 1. Approved by the House and Senate and signed into law by Gov. Tim Kaine on March 30.
SB 1227: Would ban drivers with provisional licenses from talking or texting on cell phones, regardless of whether a hands-free device is employed. Makes violations a primary offense. Tabled by a House subcommitee on Feb. 19 after being approved by the full Senate on Feb. 9.
SB 874 – Would require that drivers use hands-free accessories when making cell phone calls. Passed by the Senate Transportation Committee on Jan. 22, 2009, in amended form, but then defeated in the Courts of Justice on a tight vote. Incorporated SB 996.
HB 1615 – Delegate Algie Howell, D-Norfolk, has prefiled legislation to the 2009 General Assembly that would ban text messaging while driving. The ban would extend to bicycles and mopeds. Incorporated into HB 1876, above.
HB 1659 – Would prohibit use of wireless telecommunications devices while operating a motor vehicle, including bicycles and mopeds, whether handheld or not. Also from Howell. Died in committee on Feb. 10.
HB 1955: Would outlaw motorists’ use of handheld phones. Tabled in committee.
Virginia cell phone, texting legislation notes:
Delegate John Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake, is the author of the text messaging legislation HB 1876. Fines for those who drive and text will be $20 and then $50 for subsequent offenses.
A spokesman for AAA told the Examiner that the secondary status of the new texting law – meaning police would have to have another, primary reason for pulling over drivers – makes it “tantamount to telling people you can do it.” Still, he called it a “moral victory.”
Sen. Patricia Ticer, D-Alexandria, saw her cell phone legislation clear committee on a 9-6 vote before losing in the Courts of Justice on a 7-6 vote. Ticer’s bill was combined with SB 966 from Sen. Harry B. Blevins, R-Chesapeake.
Delegate Bobby Mathieson, D-Virginia Beach, a veteran of the cell phone wars, saw his HB 1955 die in committee on Feb. 10, 2009. His past efforts included HB 904.
- Thanks to NVRC, Fairfax
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