Va. Delegate Proposes No Texting While Driving Bill

January 2, 2008 - 9:13am

WASHINGTON - Delegate James Scott, D-Falls Church, wants you to keep your thumbs off those cell phone buttons.

Scott has proposed a bill that would make it illegal for people to send text messages while driving.

Under the measure not only would texting while driving be illegal, so would texting while riding a bike, using an electric wheelchair or riding a moped. It covers anyone who would be "sending, receiving or reading" text messages.

D.C. has a ban on driving while talking on a handheld cellphone, but that law says nothing about text messaging.

Right now the only state with a text messaging ban on the roads is Washington state, where the fine is $124 for a first offense. New Jersey's ban kicks in in March.

The bill, which goes before the General Assembly next week, doesn't suggest a punishment.

Associated Press contributed to this article.

WASHINGTON - Delegate James Scott, D-Falls Church, wants you to keep your thumbs off those cell phone buttons.

Scott has proposed a bill that would make it illegal for people to send text messages while driving.

D.C. has a ban on driving while talking on a handheld cellphone, but that law says nothing about text messaging.

Right now the only state with a text messaging ban on the roads is Washington state, where the fine is $124 for a first offense. New Jersey's ban kicks in in March.

The bill, which goes before the General Assembly next week, doesn't suggest a punishment.

Associated Press contributed to this article.

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