Tougher texting while driving bill passes General Assembly
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Posted By WSLS Staff
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Legislation to toughen the penalties for texting while driving is on its way to Gov. Bob McDonnell's desk.
Without debate, the Senate voted 28-12 Tuesday to pass a House bill increasing the fine for a first offense from $20 to $250. The fine for a second or subsequent offense would go up from $50 to $500.
The legislation also changes texting while driving to a primary offense, allowing police to stop and ticket offenders. Currently it's a secondary offense, which means drivers can only be cited if they're stopped for another violation such as speeding.
Another provision of the bill says anyone convicted of reckless driving faces a mandatory minimum $500 fine if the driver was texting at the time of the offense.
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Court records show a Carroll County substitute bus driver has been arrested and charged with DUI and reckless driving. Court papers claim Ricky Lee Phillips was on his way to pick up students from summer
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Two days before the start of summer, some local natural gas customers are facing bills they would expect to pay in the winter. The bills came after Atmos Energy, which serves the New River Valley and
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Federal authorities say they've raided 7-Eleven stores across Long Island and in Virginia as part of a probe into human smuggling, identity theft and money laundering.
Federal authorities say they've raided 7-Eleven stores across Long Island and in Virginia as part of a probe into human smuggling, identity theft and money laundering.
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VMI is ready for its close up. This week, a major film called "Field of Lost Shoes" is shooting in Lexington.What began as a conversation with his business partner ultimately led screenwriter, producer,
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Tuesday, June 18 2013 7:36 PM EDT2013-06-18 23:36:21 GMT
Friday was a reunion that Roanoke County resident Mary Morris never thought could happen, and is certainly one she will never forget. The story starts twelve years ago when her and her husband of fifty
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Wednesday, June 19 2013 6:20 AM EDT2013-06-19 10:20:02 GMT
Virginia Tech Ph.D. Student Amy Elliott will show her pure genius for the final time tonight in her bid to be America's next great engineer. We introduced you to Amy Elliott in May just before she made
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Marion police chief charged with drug distribution
Wednesday, June 19 2013 4:23 PM EDT2013-06-19 20:23:49 GMT
A police chief in southwestern Virginia has been charged with drug distribution. Marion Police Chief Michael Dean Roberts was arrested Thursday morning on one count of distribution of a controlled substance.
A police chief in southwestern Virginia has been charged with drug distribution.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 5:53 PM EDT2013-06-18 21:53:10 GMT
The Internet and television are used to make art. An artist from Chicago, Jason Salavon, designed the installation for one of the Taubman Museum of Art's latest exhibits. Projections of social media,
The Internet and television are used to make art.
An artist from Chicago, Jason Salavon, designed the installation for one of the Taubman Museum of Art's latest exhibits.
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The Roanoke County Police Department has released a new video aimed at teaching local kids about calling 911. Dispatcher Beverly Orange took a big part in making the video a reality, and says it's something
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Although it's summer time, over two-thousand Roanoke City students are heading back to the classroom Its an enrichment program called RCPS+, a new initiative launched by Roanoke City Schools to bridge
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Tuesday, June 18 2013 7:54 PM EDT2013-06-18 23:54:41 GMT
An old school in our area is getting a bit of a makeover and it's all thanks to a local group of volunteers in Buena Vista who decided to step up to the plate. Reverend Bryon LePere came up with the idea
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Tuesday, June 18 2013 5:31 PM EDT2013-06-18 21:31:33 GMT
Court records show a Carroll County substitute bus driver has been arrested and charged with DUI and reckless driving. Court papers claim Ricky Lee Phillips was on his way to pick up students from summer
Court records show a Carroll County substitute bus driver has been arrested and charged with DUI and reckless driving.
