Gov. Timothy M. Kaine will sign legislation that prohibits most text messaging while driving.
Kaine this week told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that he intends to sign House Bill 1876, which easily passed the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate last month.
The bill, sponsored by Del. John A. Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake, would make texting a secondary traffic violation -- meaning a driver could get only a $20 ticket for the offense if pulled over for another reason. Second and subsequent texting-while-driving offenses would result in fines of $50.
The texting bill is one of more than 750 pieces of legislation upon which Kaine must act by Monday. The General Assembly reconvenes on April 8 to consider Kaine's revisions to the state budget, and his amendments to and vetoes of legislation it passed during the 2009 session.
According to AAA, as of mid-February, seven states had laws on the books that ban text messaging while driving, and legislation to ban text messaging for drivers was pending in 34 other states.
Cosgrove's texting bill provides exceptions for the use of GPS devices, the use of wireless devices during an emergency and for the operators of emergency vehicles. Texting in a stopped or parked car is also allowed.
Kaine said he may make minor revisions to the legislation before signing it into law. He has said in the past that he supports efforts to curb behavior, like texting, that can lead to distracted driving.
During his presentation of the bill, Cosgrove cited statistics saying distracted driving accounts for approximately 80 percent of traffic accidents in Virginia. A recent survey stated that one-third of Virginians admit to texting while driving.
The bill was not without detractors. During debate on the measure in the Senate Transportation Committee, Sen. Ryan T. McDougle, R-Hanover, expressed concern that the legislation could preclude law-enforcement from prosecuting violators on more serious, related offenses, such as reckless driving.
A similar Senate bill that would have forbidden drivers from using cell phones that do not have hands-free accessories died in the Senate Courts of Justice Committee.
Contact Jim Nolan at (804) 649-6061 or jnolan@timesdispatch.com.
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