As part of a marathon session, characterized by Sen. Norment near the end as the “doorstep to legislative purgatory” that featured two 20-20 votes that Lt. Gov. Fairfax settled with his vote making them both 21-20, HB181 finally was heard after being passed by for the day three times previously.
After Senator Surovell (D-Fairfax) introduced a Floor Substitute that would essentially turn the bill into a bill that would make ALL use of a communication device unless “hands free” a traffic infraction, the substitute was accepted including several votes who had previously been opposed.
Sen. Obenshain (the R chair of the Senate Courts Committee through which the bill had come) then attempted to introduce another Floor Substitute similar to the original bill which would permit handheld devices for some exceptions including getting the time and GPS directions. His attempted substitute was ruled out of order and it appeared that we were headed for a favorable vote on the bill with Surovell’s substitute as Sens. Marsden & Wagner (a previous opponent who stated that he felt that the time for this bill had come) speaking in support.
It was not to be as Sen. Obenshain asked for the bill to be set aside for a time so he could discuss some changes, which request was granted.
Then after the rest of the docket was nearly completed, HB1525-Yancey prohibiting use of Handheld devices in Highway Work Zones was being discussed, Sen. Petersen asked if this was needed since we were about to vote on HB181. Since the answer was yes, 1525 was voted on and passed, 29-10, which is a step in the right direction.
Immediately following that vote, a voice who sounded like Sen. Newman asked that HB181 be passed by for the day and that was granted, so that’s where we are, Passed by for the Day (for the 4th time) ’til 11 a.m. tomorrow.
Not sure where this leaves the bill, since if Sen. Obenshain (whose support has been one of the reasons it has gotten as far as it has) has now gone over to the opposition, he may be able to kill it. There are, however, some others who sound supportive who have not been previously, and Sen. Surovell made some comments regarding preventing selective enforcement that may help blunt that opposition. I think the bill still has a chance, and we’ll see what happens tomorrow, where it will join a number of other bills that also were passed by for the day, as we get closer to the deadline, which I believe is Thursday.
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