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Students driving on and off campus will soon find more trouble if their fingers are caught on their phone and not the wheel.
Yesterday, the Senate approved a House bill, formally known as HB 1907, by a 28-12 vote that would increase fines for texting while driving in the state of Virginia.
The bill, proposed by Rich Anderson (R-Prince William.), was compromised to create first offense fines of $250 and $500 fines for repeated offenses. This is a significant increase from the current law in place charging $20 for first offenses and $50 for following infractions.
However, not everyone is in favor of the steep change in fine prices.
"This should be the same as the harsher seatbelt laws," said Brice Moon, senior marketing major. "Give the ticket, but not a ridiculous $200 fine."
HB 1907 will give Virginia police the ability to pull a driver over for using their phone. Four years ago, secondary law stated that in order to charge a driver for a texting violation, it would have to be discovered after another traffic violation charge.
With the Virginia Tech Police Department’s strong presence on campus streets, students would be especially subject to the stronger penalties if it proceeds further.
“I definitely am going to start putting my phone out of reach when driving around, just to be safe,” said JP Theodorakos, sophomore international studies major.
The details of the legislation, however, are still in question. For example, determining the difference between text messaging versus other cell phone activities. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell will scrutinize the bill’s nuances when it reaches his desk.
"I'm not opposed to the law, because it's less bad than in other states, where you can't even take a call on the road," said Becca Copeland, sophomore interior design major.
As it stands, drivers under the age of 18 and school bus drivers are prohibited from using cell phones.
The Senate drafted a similar bill aimed at preventing texting and driving and has already been approved by both chambers this month. While less specific, the Senate bill will supplement the House bill as dual legislation. In addition, the two drafts incorporate a mass amount of proposed bills correcting existing cell phone laws.
Existing Virginia texting laws were highly scorned by law officials and citizens after an increasing number of preventable accidents. In 2011, an Alexandria man hit and killed a college student while allegedly texting. He was released without a reckless driving charge as per the minor cell phone infraction.
Students argue still, however, against the stringent law.
"I'll text without looking at the screen, and only when the roads are empty or when the light is red. I don't think I should be charged $200 for that," said senior Graham Millinder.
A version of this article appeared in the Feb 20 issue of the Collegiate Times.
Leave a comment 7 Comments Write a letter to the editor
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Texting and driving is one of the most dangerous activities you can do. In fact, I consider it worse than drinking and driving, at least when you drink and drive you are watching the road, but texting and driving you are not watching at all (I am only being somewhat serious and do not believe anyone should EVER drink and drive.) I wish that it was a MUCH MUCH MUCH harder penalty, take away a drivers license for 3 months or make a hefty fine (~$1000 for 1st offense). Also raise insurance cost, as texting and driving will cause accidents.
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This is a definite step in the right direction. A few weeks ago when campus closed early for snow, I witnessed at least five people texting while driving, their tires slipping and the cars sliding. Unbelievable and extremely upsetting to witness. If people won't use common sense in even the most dangerous conditions, then the law needs to step in and make it painful not to.
Those who argue against penalties for texting while driving need to get over their arrogance. Texting while driving kills, maims, and destroys lives.
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I applaud the Virginia Senate for putting forth this measure. I take issue with Mr. Moon's comments equating texting while driving with seatbelt laws. By not wearing your seatbelt, you're foolishly putting your own life in danger, but texting puts everyone around you at risk.
I attended Virginia Tech as an undergrad, and am currently getting my Master's here as well. Over the last few years, I have noticed a sharp increase in drivers around me texting, and it's very aggravating. I can't count the number of times I have been cut off around the University City Blvd / Prices Fork intersection by someone staring at a screen instead of the road.
I PROMISE your messaging recipient will wait five minutes for a text from you. It's arrogant and selfish to think you're not endangering others when you text and drive, or that the physical well-being of yourself and others is not as important as whatever you have to say at that moment.
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I am a proponent of safe driving, but I am uncomfortable with police having practically unlimited discretion and power to stop and detain law abiding citizens. Although enacting legislation to make texting while driving illegal sounds good in theory, it is yet one more tentacle that government can use to reach deep into people’s personal space.
Texting while driving laws, perhaps legislated with good intention, by default, serve to give police sweeping power to stop and detain citizens. It once was that police could only stop a person for an obvious infraction such as running a stop sign or speeding, but the proposed texting law requires police to observe not only the vehicle, but also what a person is doing inside of the vehicle. Do we really want police, in an attempt to spot an infraction, look inside our vehicles to observe every little thing we do? Do we really want police to have the power to detain us for suspicion of texting or not wearing a seatbelt?
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