As the Associated Press reports, the Senate has passed HB1907, making texting while driving a primary offense, and increasing penalties for doing so. Now passed by both houses, the bill awaits Gov. McDonnell’s signature to become law.

Currently, texting is a secondary offense — drivers can be cited only while stopped for something else. Fines are only $20 for a first offense, $50 for subsequent offenses. The new law would raise fines to $250 and $500 respectively. Additionally, drivers convicted of reckless driving would face a $500 fine if they were texting at the time of the offense.

A 2009 Virginia Tech study showed that texting drivers were up to 23 times more likely to be involved in a collision.

HB1907 has received little press coverage or fanfare. Note the above report is from the AP, not local or regional press. Have mobile phone companies — with their tremendous advertising budgets — been effective in keeping things quiet? Or are Virginians too involved with their mobile phones to be interested in this crusade?

SB1060 defeated by House vote, 42-55.

YEAS–Anderson, BaCote, Brink, Bulova, Byron, Carr, Cole, Comstock, Dance, Fariss, Filler-Corn, Garrett, Greason, Habeeb, Herring, Hester, Hope, Howell, A.T., James, Keam, Kory, Krupicka, Lewis, Lopez, May, McClellan, McQuinn, Minchew, Morrissey, Plum, Rust, Scott, J.M., Sickles, Spruill, Stolle, Surovell, Torian, Toscano, Tyler, Ward, Ware, O., Watts–42.

NOT VOTING–Hugo, Peace, Ramadan–3.

30 D’s (all but Joannou of Norfolk/Portsmouth, and Johnson of Abingdon) voted for the bill, along with 12 R’s. [continue reading…]

Breaking: SB1060 has failed, 42-55. More soon.

We’re almost there but we’ve got to get this bill through the House Floor, or all our work ends in a disappointment.

The House Floor is far from a sure thing, as we need 51 votes for passage.

There are 32 D’s, most or all of whom may support it.

If they do, 19 R’s are needed.

11 R’s on the Transportation Committee voted to report the bill.

Assuming they all stay with it on the floor (not a sure thing) we need 8 more. O’Bannon & Mark Cole were co-patrons, so I count them in. Loupassi has said he will support it. [continue reading…]

Just home from catching a three bagger.

SB1060/Sen. Reeves (the Don’t Follow Too Closely and Three Foot Passing, but with the Three Foot Passing removed, so that it is now just Don’t Follow Too Closely) WAS REPORTED out of the House Trans Comm by a 14 – 3 vote and now goes on to the last hurdle, which is the HOUSE FLOOR.

Now EVERYONE must contact their Delegates and urge passage on the Floor, since this is not a sure thing in that arena.

Interestingly, Del. Cox, after being the only vote against the bill in Sub Comm2, moved to Report the Bill in this full committee, and then was one of the three (including Cosgrove of Chesapeake and Rust of Loudoun) who voted against it. It would appear he has made a promise to someone NEVER to support a bicycling bill, although it appears in person he is softening his stance a bit. [continue reading…]