An End To Texting And Driving In Tennessee And Virginia

On July 1, sending or receiving text messages while driving will be banned in both Virginia and Tennessee.
Good riddance. The practice is even worse than other distracted driving habits, such as applying makeup, eating, fiddling with the radio or talking on a cellular phone.
Text messaging while driving is particularly dangerous because texters must take their eyes off the road and put them on the key pad. We don’t want to hear from riled teens, or disillusioned adults, who claim they know the key pad like, well, the back of their hand, and don’t have to look. And we’ll thank you to keep your hands on the wheel with your eyes on the road, at least while you’re driving.
Lawmakers in both states agreed that text messaging while driving is dangerous and should be illegal. In Virginia, only a handful of legislators bucked this one – six state senators and 10 delegates were opposed. As we reported in February, among them were local Republican legislators Sen. William Wampler of Bristol and Delegate Terry Kilgore of Gate City.
Both claimed this was an example of government intrusion. We say it’s about safety, plain and simple.
Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine signed the measure, sponsored by Delegate John Cosgrove, a Chesapeake Republican, into law on March 30; it takes effect July 1. The violation is a secondary offense, which means police must see a driver committing a more serious offense to justify the stop.
The same is true in Tennessee, where the state Senate adopted the ban with a 23-6 vote April 23. It passed the House 67-24 April 27. The Tennessee measure was sponsored by House Rep. John Lundberg, R-1, who represents Bristol and the northern portion of Sullivan County.
We supported Lundberg’s bill throughout the session and are pleased to see it make its way to Gov. Phil Bredesen’s desk for his signature. Lundberg tried to get a similar bill passed last year, but the one was sent to “summer study” – or killed by isolating it for a year.
Tennessee lawmakers still tried to stop the 2009 bill by trying to tag on an expensive amendment. Rep. Bill Harmon, D-Dunlap, wanted to require the state to install new road signs costing $14,000 informing motorists of the texting ban at every border crossing – a surefire way to kill the measure in this recession. Lundberg compromised and suggested a broadcast warning on the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s electronic billboards. Compromise was reached and state lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the texting ban.
The punishments – a $50 fine and $25 in court costs in Tennessee; a $20 fine for a first offense and $50 for subsequent offenses in Virginia – are a pittance compared to the damage that could happen from an accident caused by inattention while texting.
Texting while driving is already banned in seven states and the District of Columbia. For the safety of all motorists, we are pleased to have Tennessee and Virginia join those ranks come July 1.