Northam wants to give handheld cellphone ban another try
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is trying to revive an effort to ban motorists from holding cellphones while driving.
Northam announced Tuesday he’s adding a proposed amendment to legislation that would bar drivers from holding a cellphone while driving in a highway work zone. The governor’s amendment would broaden the ban to all roads in Virginia.
Lawmakers in the House and Senate both passed a version of a “hands-free driving” bill earlier this year but could not agree on compromise language in a final product.
The legislature will return April 3 to take up Northam’s vetoes and amendments. State law already makes it illegal to text or email on a cellphone while driving.
March 26, 2019 @ 4:51 pm
Holding a phone while driving is one thing. Texting is another. Talking on a phone is no more distracting than talking to another person in a vehicle. Texting takes one’s eyes off the road and leads to accidents without question. However, is dialing a number is the same as texting, but is answering a call another matter. Is this really the purview of the state? Not sure. How about you? Beats me since I don’t operate a cell phone. Just wondering.