Take heed! New texting-while-driving and moped laws take effect today
New driving laws go into effect today in Virginia ahead of the 4th of July holiday weekend. Here’s a rundown of what’s changed, and how to avoid getting a ticket.
Texting while driving
Texting while driving is now a primary offense. That means that Virginia police can pull you over and cite you if they suspect you were texting. According to AAA, drivers who enter multiple letters or text as a way to communicate, or who read texts or emails, violate the new law.
After pulling a suspect over, police may ask to see the driver’s phone to see if any texts were recently sent. Drivers may refuse. Without visual evidence, it would be the word of the driver against the word of the police officer in court. Fines for the first offense are $125, and $250 for subsequent ones.
However, drivers may still use GPS navigation or consult a voice assistant like Siri. The law also doesn’t prohibit scrolling through songs.
Here’s more info on the new law.
Tightened moped restrictions
Every moped1 driver must now carry a government-issued photo ID and wear a helmet. Riders must also wear a face shield, safety glasses, or goggles if their moped has no windshield.
Also, keep this in mind: By July 1, 2014, moped owners must title ($10) and annually register ($20.25) their vehicles with the DMV.
More on the new restrictions here.
Fewer passengers for drivers under 18
This law really only applies to first-year provisional drivers under 18 (and their parents!). It’s also a bit complicated, but here we go:
Provisional drivers under the age of 18 can only have one passenger who is less than 21-years-old in the car with them. After the first year, these provisional licensees can drive with up to three passengers under the age of 21.
However, driving with three people under 21 is only allowed if the provisional license-holder is only driving to or from a school-sponsored activity. But they can drive elsewhere if they’re driving with a 21-year-old licensed driver who is in the passenger seat, or if it’s an emergency.
All of these restrictions no longer apply if provisional license-holders have a license-holding parent in the passenger seat while driving.
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Footnotes
- 49cc and below. 50cc vehicles are considered motorcycles under law. ↩
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Nathan Cushing
Nathan Cushing is a writer, journalist, and RVANews Editor.
Notice: Comments that are not conducive to an interesting and thoughtful conversation may be removed at the editor’s discretion.
So it seems like police officers have essentially been given the power to pull people over whenever they want. I can’t wait for there to be some case law that clarifies how strong the belief must be that somebody is texting so as to justify pulling someone over. For now though, we’re probably going to see a lot more DUI’s and drug related charges, since officers (when asked why they pulled the person over) can just say “we saw a light, so we thought he was texting. We pulled him over, and when we did, he smelled like alcohol (or drugs). We then asked him to step out of the car and do a sobriety test…”
This texting while driving law is so stupid. I can make phone calls and change my music, but I can’t text? I get what they’re trying to do, but this is completely intrusive. If you wanna cut down on traffic accidents, try investing in public transportation, including a rail system and safer biking routes.
“I can’t wait for there to be some case law that clarifies how strong the belief must be that somebody is texting so as to justify pulling someone over.” <- THIS
This texting law is HORRENDOUS. It essentially gave police powers to pull whomever over and for whatever reason (racial, physical appearance profiling will happen excessively if history shows us anything). The police have no reason not to pull you for no reason at all because no matter what they can give you a ticket and then the burden, hassle, monetary impact on a citizen is certain. Come one Virginia, I know you’re authoritative (leaning fascist) but you can do better than this, where is the outrage ?
People who say “there oughta be a law” are generally the ones that cause all these problems. That being said, do you REALLY think it’s a good idea to text while driving? I hate the fact that this law even needed to passed in the first place! Some of you people with your smartphones probably should go to rehab due to your phone addiction! Or at the very least, learn some etiquette. The person I’m talking to face-to-face is WAY more important than the person texting me or posting status updates on Facebook! The law that ALSO just came into effect on July 1st that has me most concerned is the exemption of members of the General Assembly & staffers of their correspondence from the Freedom of Information Act. Public servants (and yes, that includes staffers, too! My taxes pay your salaries; I need to know what you ALL are doing!) shouldn’t be allowed to hide behind a veil of secrecy!
Oh, another thing on the texting behind the wheel ban: did you read in the paper that they don’t even have guidelines set for state & local police to enforce it?
Maybe we should just take responsibility for our will to not text at all while driving before laws get out of hand? I mean everyone! Too many people thinking they can get away with it till the police get involved!
I catch TONS of people with my GoPro Camera everyday, what makes you think the police don’t see you????
http://www.textface.com/photos/