Senate Passes Bill Restricting Teen Cell Phone Use While Driving

A new bill that passed the Virginia Senate would make cell phone use behind the wheel a primary offense for teenage drivers. 

According to an article in The Virginian Pilot, SB210, proposed by Sen. George Barker (D-39), cleared the Senate on Jan. 25 and now heads to the House of Delegates for approval. If passed, the bill would allow authorities to pull over teen drivers for using a cell phone while driving.

The phone restriction applies to provisional license holders younger than 18.

The cell phone provision in the bill reads, "Except in a driver emergency or when the vehicle is lawfully parked or stopped, the holder of a provisional driver's license shall not operate a motor vehicle on the highways of the Commonwealth while using any cellular telephone or any other wireless telecommunications device, regardless of whether such device is or is not hand-held."

The Viriginian-Pilot reports that the bill passed the Senate on a 30-10 vote. Barker proposed a similar bill in 2011, but it failed to pass the House of Delegates.