We all know texting while driving is dangerous, but we have to be honest: we’ve all done it. But did you know that it’s also illegal? That’s right. If you’re texting while you’re driving, you’re not only doing something extremely dangerous, you’re also breaking the law!
Under Virginia Code § 46.2-1078.1, it is “unlawful for any person to operate a moving vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth while using any handheld personal communications device to:
- Manually enter multiple letters or text in the device as a means of communicating with another person; or
- Read any email or text message transmitted to the device or stored within the device…”
A violation of this section is a traffic infraction punishable by a $125.00 fine for the first violation, and a $250.00 fine for a second or subsequent violation. And just to be clear, “highways in the Commonwealth” means any public road, not just I-264 and I-64!
So the next time you feel the urge to send or read a text or e-mail while you’re driving, ask yourself if it’s important enough to die or kill for. Or if it’s even worth paying a $125.00 for. I’ll bet the answer is no.