Handheld personal communications devices; use while driving, penalty. (HB461)

Introduced By

Del. Rich Anderson (R-Woodbridge) with support from co-patrons Del. Gordon Helsel (R-Poquoson), Del. Ken Plum (D-Reston), Del. Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke), and Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-Herndon)

Description

Use of handheld personal communications devices while driving; penalty. Expands the prohibition on manually entering multiple letters or text in a handheld communications device while operating a motor vehicle to also prohibit the manual selection of multiple icons and removes the condition that such manual entry is prohibited only if performed as a means of communicating with another person. The bill prohibits the operator of a motor vehicle from reading any information displayed on the device; current law prohibits reading an email or text message. The bill provides that this prohibition does not apply to reading any information displayed through the use of a global position system for the purposes of navigation. The bill eliminates the current exemption from the prohibition on using a handheld personal communications device while operating a motor vehicle when the vehicle is stopped or not moving; the current exemption from the prohibition when the vehicle is parked is not affected. Read the Bill »

Outcome

History