Feb 19
Legislation to toughen the penalties for texting while driving in Virginia is on its way to Gov. Bob McDonnell’s desk. Without debate, the Senate voted 28-12 to pass a House bill increasing the fine for a first offense from $20 to $250. The fine for a second or subsequent offense would go up from $50 to $500. The legislation also changes texting while driving to a primary offense, allowing police to stop and ticket offenders. Currently it’s a secondary offense, which means drivers can only be cited if they’re stopped for another violation such as speeding.