Tougher texting-while-driving law fails in Va. House

Posted to: News Politics State Government Traffic - Transportation Virginia
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By Bill Sizemore
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 26, 2012

RICHMOND

Efforts to strengthen Virginia’s law against texting while driving are getting no traction in the state House of Delegates.

Current law prohibits sending text messages or emails while driving, but it is a secondary offense, meaning drivers can be ticketed only if they are pulled over for another reason.

The law is ineffective, Del. Thomas Rust, R-Fairfax County, told a House subcommittee this morning, noting that police are issuing only a few hundred texting tickets a year statewide.

Meanwhile, texting is causing thousands of highway deaths a year across the nation, Rust said. Statistics show that it increases the risk of highway crashes by 23 times and – along with alcohol and speeding – has become one of the three leading causes of accidents, he said.

Rust’s bill, HB874, had the support of safe-driving groups, police chiefs, auto clubs and the insurance industry.

But several members of the Republican-led panel said the measure is unneeded because if texting causes motorists to drive in a dangerous manner, they can be charged with reckless driving.

The bill failed to advance.

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Text & Drive...let the Insurance Companies handle this

Submitted by BH1167 on Thu, 01/26/2012 at 6:34 pm.

It's OK for the Law NOT to get involved...remember, the Gov't doesn't want you to live long anyway because you'll be an expense to Social Security Income the longer you live. HOWEVER....LET the Car Insurance Companies enforce this rule...if you get in an accident because you were Texting...let the Ins. Company request your cell phone records at the time of the accident...if you were texting...then DOUBLE their insurance for "High Risk" driver and that will fix it. Remember...DUMMIES only learn when they're "hit in the wallet" so make it Financially HARDER for them TO Drive if they're going to TEXT AND DRIVE. Just saying....

Is there no common sense left at all?

Submitted by longtimereader on Thu, 01/26/2012 at 4:36 pm.

A policeman sees a driver texting. The driver is not doing anything else illegal at the time. The policeman can take no action. Five minutes later the texting driver causes a wreck; kills someone. Texting while driving defies all levels of common sense. Why can't our legislators see this? Or are they the ones with absolutely no common sense? Seriously, how out of touch with the real world can you be?

Make up something

Submitted by Leon Severn on Thu, 01/26/2012 at 8:15 pm.

The cops can just make up something if they want to pull you over bad enough. And also, I think there was some article that said "distracted driving" is an offense anyway.

"Why can't they see this?" Because,

Submitted by Gertz Point on Thu, 01/26/2012 at 5:54 pm.

"several members of the Republican-led panel said the measure is unneeded because if texting causes motorists to drive in a dangerous manner, they can be charged with reckless driving."

Republicans want you to have as many guns as you want to purchase every mont, but they can't see why texting isn't a threat to everyone on the highway.

What?

Submitted by Red Guy on Thu, 01/26/2012 at 5:19 pm.

A policeman sees a driver texting?? When? You mean when he is sitting on the side of the road or behind the trees staring at his radar read out ?? In order to catch someone texting he has to SEE them doing it which is very difficult. That is from a few different Officers I have spoken to.

Texting while driving is incredibly stupid and needs to stop but this change in the law will have no effect and is just a waste of legislative time.

So we just walk away from

Submitted by Elmwood on Thu, 01/26/2012 at 7:25 pm.

So we just walk away from the debate? If the Police officer is watching you for speeding, he can't see if your seat belt is on either!!

Bring on the laws …

Submitted by suffolksplit on Thu, 01/26/2012 at 4:26 pm.

… but not this one. It was a bunch of mush, obviously written by a committee. Parts were either unenforceable or unconstitutional due to 4th amendment issues. They need to try again.

DRIVING WHILE TEXTING

Submitted by WBC040 on Thu, 01/26/2012 at 1:59 pm.

and in a fatal collision (notice I didn't say accident)is nothing more than pre-meditated murder. How much did Verizon pay you all off is now the question?

Punishment

Submitted by Sullytown on Thu, 01/26/2012 at 1:43 pm.

Punishment should be equal to a DUI. Poor judgment.

Shameful !!

Submitted by Elmwood on Thu, 01/26/2012 at 1:26 pm.

Once again the Delegates have showed lack of common sense. The Cell Phone problems which plagues this area and the safety issues around them, need fixing. The Roads are just to busy and dangerous to have people carrying on in conversation and not paying attention to the road. If Seat Belts,and lights on with wipers,were such an issue that a law was needed. Why would you not have restrictions on Cell Phone usage ?