Last updated: March 23, 2024
Cell phone, texting news: Delegate Steve Westfall modernized the state’s electronic distracted driving law with a comprehensive rewrite. His HB 2218 of 2023 includes jail or prison time for causing serious injury or a death while driving distracted. The measure was signed into law in late March and took effect in June.
West Virginia’s law against using handheld cell phones while driving became subject to primary enforcement in 2013. The law went into effect that summer, after a year of secondary enforcement in which police needed another reason to stop a motorist observed breaking the law.
A spokesman for the Governor’s Highway Safety Program has said electronic distracted driving is probably “the No. 1 contributor to crashes” in West Virginia.
Current prohibitions:
- Text messaging and the use of handheld cell phones are illegal for all drivers in West Virginia.
- Teenagers with learner’s permits or intermediate licenses are prohibited from using wireless communication devices while driving. Read the teen driver law.
- School bus drivers may not use cell phones while operating the vehicles.
Fines: $100 (first offense), then $200, then $300. Three points against the driver’s license on the third and subsequent convictions. Enhanced penalties for causing death or injuries.
Read West Virginia’s texting & handheld cell phone law
Distracted driving legislation (2023)
House Bill 2218: Seeks to rewrite and update electronic distracted driving law. Prohibits touching of electronic communications devices but allows for hands-free and voice-controlled. Includes jail time for causing serious injury or death while distracted. Approved by the full House in an 88-6 vote of Feb. 10. Approved by the Senate Transportation Committee on Feb. 28. Approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 8. Approved by the full Senate on March 9. Approved by the House on March 11. Signed into law by the governor March 28. Took effect June 9. (Westfall)
Distracted driving news (2023)
Delegate Steve Westfall’s House Bill 2218 is also known as the Robin W. Ames Memorial Act. Ames was a bicyclist killed in a crash linked to use of a cell phone app.
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2022 distracted driving legislation
House Bill 4066: Rewrite of electronic distracted driving law. Includes jail time for causing serious injury or death while distracted. Fines: $150, 2 points (first offense), $250, 3 points (second offense), $500, 4 points (subsequent). Approved by Technology and Infrastructure in a unanimous vote of Feb. 14. (Westfall)
2019 distracted driving legislation
House Bill 2723: Would add more penalty points vs. driver’s license for serial violations of handheld cell phone law. Three points for second offense and 5 points for third conviction. (Caputo)
House Bill 2820: Would increase penalties for reckless driving, including distracted driving. For reckless driving resulting in serious bodily injury, fines up to $3,000 and a possible prison sentence of two to 10 years. For causing a death, fine and possible three to 15 years in prison. (Shott)
2019 distracted driving news
Delegate John Shott proposes tougher penalties for causing injuries or deaths as a result of distracted driving. His HB 2820 of 2019 reportedly was inspired by an increase in serious accidents attributed to electronic distracted driving. The punishments envisioned by the bill would be similar to those for offenders who were driving while intoxicated. Another House bill seeks to increase points vs. serial offenders of the handheld cell phone law.
Shott’s HB 2820 plan to pump up reckless driving penalties was prompted by a local prosecutor. “I asked Delegate Shott to consider this change after our office reviewed several recent accidents which resulted in serious bodily injury or death,” Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney George Sitler told the Bluefield Daily Telegraph. “The drivers in these accidents didn’t seem to have been intoxicated, but cell-phone distraction was strongly suspected.”
2014 distracted driving news
The Division of Motor Vehicles is crediting publicity surrounding distracted driving legislation with contributing to an 18 percent decrease in roadway fatalities in West Virginia. DMV Commissioner Pat Reed cited “changes in driver behavior and awareness due to recent legislation” in reporting the decrease for the full year 2014 on March 10, 2015.
Federal funding for overtime patrols brought a significant number of distracted driving tickets, the DMV said. In 2014, police wrote 5,033 citations for handheld cell phone violations and 334 for texting & driving.
271 people died in West Virginia traffic accidents in 2014, the DMV reported. That continues the downward trend reported since 2011 (below). “Losing even one life is too many,” said DMV Commissioner Pat Reed, “but knowing that we are moving in the right direction towards our goal of zero fatalities is encouraging.” West Virginia is working its way down from some of the highest road fatality rates in the U.S.
2014 distracted driving news
325 people died on West Virginia highways in 2013, the second-lowest number to date and a drop from both 2012 (339) and 2011 (338). A a state highway safety official said the new distracted driving laws and the primary-enforcement safety belt law helped lower the number: “I think these laws will make a real difference in the number of crashes,” Lt. Paul Blume told the Register-Herald on Jan. 23.
Legislators again in 2014 were considering a ban on Google Glass-style wearable computer monitors.
Distracted driving legislation (2014)
House Bill 3057: Would prohibit driving while using “a wearable computer with head mounted display” (as in Google Glass). Fines same as texting/handheld cell phones: $100 (first offense), then $200 (second) and $300 plus 3 points (third). Would be a modification to existing distracted driving law. Refiled (with same number) from 2013. (Howell)
2013 distracted driving news
Full enforcement is in effect for violators of the state’s distracted driving laws, but House Minority leader Tim Armstead worries about “a lot of ambiguities in the law. We have to see how it plays out and is enforced,” Armstead, R-Kanawha, told the Register-Herald.
About 286 citations were handed out in the first five months after the change, the Governor’s Highway Safety Program said in December 2013. The delay in primary enforcement for cell phone violations essentially was a warning period. Warnings continued after July 1, however, with police writing over 100 notices as of early December. Texting has been subject to full enforcement since both bans went into effect in summer 2012.
Delegate Nancy Guthrie, who started pressing for distracted driving legislation back in 2008, said the enactment of full enforcement proves “if you stick with something long enough, no matter if it’s got your name on it at the end, if you push it and keep pushing, somebody will carry it across the finish line.”
“This last year, it’s been more about education and awareness,” a DMV spokeswoman told the Charleston Gazette. “Sometimes, just having the law in place is enough to change the behavior,” she said.
125 West Virginia drivers were convicted of electronic distracted driving in the first 10 months of the state’s texting & talking law. The count is expected to increase now that use of handheld cell phones is a primary offense July 1.
Del. Gary Howell says he was inspired to file legislation that would pre-emptively ban Google Glass and similar technologies by reading advance articles about the wearable computers. Responding to those who said the visual displays would be similar to head-up displays already used in planes and cars, Howell told PC magazine March 25: “I doubt a fighter pilot will ever watch a video or receive text from his girlfriend on his HUD.”
Howell, R-28th District, said one reason he filed the attention-getting HB 305 was “to increase awareness that when driving, you should be concentrating on driving.” The legislation did not advance in the 2013 session, however. The Google glasses would be allowed under the state’s distracted driving laws.
Howell told several media outlets in late March that his bill was inspired by articles on the so-called Google Glass. Its use would be illegal under the plan because it “projects visual information into the field of vision of the wearer.”
“The youth in our society are those that are most likely to try new technology, and they are also our less skilled drivers,” Howell told PC magazine. “That is a bad combination.”
The conservative lawmaker is a longtime car racer and builder.
2013 distracted driving legislation
House Bill 3057: Would prohibit driving while using “a wearable computer with head mounted display” (as in Google glasses). Fines same as texting/handheld cell phones: $100 (first offense), then $200 (second) and $300 plus 3 points (third). Would be a modification to existing distracted driving law. (Howell)
2012 distracted driving news:
West Virginia’s ban on text messaging and the use of handheld cell phones while driving technically became effective June 1, 2012, and the Governor’s Highway Safety Program spent the early summer educating the public on West Virginia’s distracted driving law. Enforcement began July 1.
The law makes text messaging and handheld cell phone use while driving primary offenses. While text messaging will be subject to primary enforcement as of July 1, the cell phone enforcement will be limited to secondary status for another year. That means police will need another reason to stop and cite motorists using handheld cell phones until July 1, 2013.
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin marked the April 3o signing of his 2012 distracted driving legislation with a visit to several high schools and the promotion of a new state safe driver pledge. He handed out finger guards, supplied by AT&T, that make it impossible to text when they are worn. On a more somber note, he said: “I spoke with several heartbroken families today who lost loved ones in car accidents caused by distracted drivers, and I assured them I was doing everything possible to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.”
The last-minute compromise reached on the governor’s distracted driving legislation had the Senate agreeing to budge on primary enforcement for both texting and handheld cell phone use, while the House agreed to delay its preferred primary enforcement for a year. “This will give people time to adjust,” Senate Judiciary Chairman Corey Palumbo told the Charleston Gazette. “We feel texting while driving is a much more serious thing.”
Tomblin’s original plan was for secondary enforcement of the distracted driving laws.
Legislative leaders who compromised in accepting Tomblin’s requested legislation indicated their intention was to immediately crack down on texting — widely seen as the more dangerous practice — while giving cell phoning drivers some time to adjust to the new distracted driving laws.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Corey Palumbo told the Charleston Daily Mail that he expected the distracted driving legislation to succeed, but more revisions could be coming: “I’m not sure the Senate will just accept what the House did.” In the end, they compromised and the legislation advanced to the governor’s desk.
House Judiciary Chairman Tim Miley said his committee decided to make handheld cell phone use a primary offense for “practical implementation” of the distracted driving laws by police.
The House Judiciary Committee decided to simplify the governor’s distracted driving plan to make all use of handheld electronic devices illegal for drivers, but had to reconsider and reject its change. “We’re afraid that if we adopt this amendment we’ll do major damage to this bill and ruin its chances of passage,” said Delegate Mark Hunt, D-Kanawha. The committee did make handheld cell phone use and texting both primary violations and inserted an exemption for voice-controlled technology such as the iPhone’s Siri.
Tomblin promoted his distracted driving legislation Feb. 8 with a show of solidarity from the National Transportation Safety Board and a truckers organization. “You’re making this into a political priority that it needs to be,” NTSB vp Christopher Hart said at the governor’s press conference. The president of the West Virginia Trucking Association spoke of the dangers presented to professional drivers as a result of people texting while behind the wheel.
The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved its toughened version of Tomblin’s Senate Bill 211 (Sub2) on Feb. 1. The measure went before the full Senate and was approved there in a 34-0 vote Feb. 6.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Corey Palumbo, D-Kanawha, said during the final Senate vote on SB 211: “(With) a primary offense (for texting) people have more of a realization that this is something they have to follow.”
Wording of the governor’s distracted driving bill caused some heads to spin on the House Roads and Transportation Committee. “Are we all thoroughly confused?” the panel’s chairman asked Jan. 18. The chairman, Delegate Margaret Staggers, said the governor’s plan for secondary enforcement “doesn’t seem very practical” and indicated her committee would consider bills with more teeth.
Gov. Tomblin said Jan. 18: “If they want to make it a primary offense … I’ll probably sign it.” An aide to Tombin said the secondary enforcement tag on the governor’s bill was designed to avoid points against a violator’s driver’s license.
Staggers, D-Fayette, is looking for alternative ways to stop West Virginians from driving while distracted. She says she finds merit in tax incentives for voice-activated hardware installation as well as additional penalties for distracted drivers who cause accidents. As for a ban on the use of handheld cell phones, “I don’t know if you can outlaw stupidity,” the Transportation Committee chairwoman told the Register-Herald Reporter.
Staggers says she sees “a good compromise” in a Republican plan that would provide for additional penalties for drivers who cause accidents if they were using a cell phones at the time.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Corey Palumbo says the governor’s support could end the annual legislative back-and-forth on texting and handheld cell phone laws.
Gov. Tomblin said in his address to the Legislature on Jan. 11: “With the advent of iPhones, BlackBerries, 4G networks, and texting, the number of people who are using mobile phones while driving has and continues to increase. And, with that increase, there has been an equally dramatic increase in the number of driving fatalities where distracted driving was involved. … “I want West Virginians to remain free from distracted drivers on our public highways.”
The Charleston Daily Mail called the governor’s plan for secondary enforcement of distracted driving laws “a modest, sensible approach that would not be unnecessarily intrusive and would not unnecessarily criminalize people.”
At least eight distracted driving bills were introduced for the 2012 legislative session.
2012 distracted driving legislation
Senate Bill 211 (original version, see Sub2 below): Would prohibit drivers in West Virginia from using wireless communication devices without hands-free equipment. Includes texting and cell phone calls. Fines: $100 (first offense), then $200, then $300. Three points vs. license third and subsequent convictions. Secondary enforcement only. Novice driver restrictions on cell phones and texting would remain, with primary enforcement. Amended and approved unanimously by the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Jan. 24. Amended and approved by the Judiciary Committee on Feb. 1. See SB 211 Sub 2 below. Approved by the Senate in a 34-0 vote on Feb. 6 and then approved by the the House in an 87-12 vote March 9. Approved unanimously by the Senate on March 10 and by the House in an 86-13 vote. Sent to the governor. Latest legislative action: Signed by the governor April 3. Goes into effect July 1, 2012. (Kessler, Hall as requested by governor)
- Senate Bill 211: final version — Would prohibit drivers in West Virginia from using wireless communication devices without hands-free equipment. Includes texting and cell phone calls. Fines: $100 (first offense), then $200, then $300. Three points assessed against driver’s license on third and subsequent violations. Primary enforcement, but cell phones secondary for first year. Also requires advisory signs at state border. Approved March 10 and sent to the governor. Takes effect July 1, 2012.
- SB 211 Sub2 changes: Makes texting subject to primary enforcement, but enforcement of the handheld cell phone law secondary. Fines $50, $100 and $200. Three points assessed against driver’s license on third and subsequent violations.
- House version of Senate Bill 211: As above, but amended March 6 to primary enforcement for texting and handheld cell phone use. Fines increased to $100 (first offense), $200 and $500. Also requires advisory signs at state border. Approved by the House Transportation Committee on Jan. 25. Amended and approved by the House Judiciary Committee on March 6. Latest legislative action: Approved by the House in an 87-12 vote taken March 9. Returned to the Senate.
House Bill 4091: Would prohibit drivers from using wireless communication devices without hands-free equipment. Includes texting and cell phone calls. Fines: $100 (first offense), then $200, then $400. Secondary enforcement. (Thompson, Armstead as requested by governor)
SB 47: Would prohibit text messaging while driving. Fine: $25. No points. (Beach)
SB 79: Seeks to ban text messaging while driving. Fines: $50, then $100, then $200. No points. (Unger)
House Bill 2490: Would prohibit text messaging by drivers as well as “additional technology activities” (Internet, music, games, etc.) using handheld mobile communication devices. Fines: $250, then $500, then $1,000. (Miley)
HB 4005: Would prohibit text messaging by all drivers. (Frazier)
HB 4075: Would outlaw use of handheld wireless communications devices by drivers, including cell phones. Hands-free OK if driver “exercises a high degree of caution.” Categorized as “reckless driving offense.” (Guthrie)
2011 distracted driving notes
The House approved a text messaging ban in February but in a heavily amended form that only provided for secondary enforcement. HB 2555 won handily (92-5) but died in the Senate as time ran out on the session.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Corey Palumbo said of the failure of distracted driving legislation in 2011 “tells me there’s very little concern for all the deaths on our roads in the House.”
Senate Majority Leader John Unger charged there was “chaos” in the House in the final days of the session: “None of our bills died in here (the Senate). They died over there.”
Upon HB 2555’s approval in the House (Feb. 17), Delegate Danny Wells, D-Kanawha, said: “I’m totally disappointed and discouraged. … As long as it’s not a primary offense (to text and drive), it’s just a worthless piece of paper.” He voted for the bill anyway
The HB 2555 proposal for a texting ban was trashed in the House Judiciary Committee, with the delegate who wrote the panel’s amended version calling the original “one of the worst bills I’ve ever seen.” Delegate Mark Hunt, D-Kanawha, says, “I think we need to go back and do a hands-free law,” Hunt said. He expects quick introduction of a rival bill that would ban handheld cell phones. Ironically, the bill’s sponsor eliminated a cell phone ban to increase HB 2555’s chances of passing.
Delegate Dale Martin, D-Putnam, is lead sponsor of the HB 2555 texting ban. Martin is chairman of the Roads and Transportation Committee. The original bill was modeled using U.S. Department of Transportation guidelines, Martin said.
“It’ll have a better chance of passing (than 2010’s HB 4013), Martin said (prior to the Judiciary Committee’s amendments). “I think the public is more aware of the hazard.” HB 4013 called for a ban on use of handheld cell phones, which complicated passage, Martin says.
The Select Committee on Infrastructure considered an earlier draft of the texting legislation in late December.
2011 distracted driving legislation (dead)
House Bill 2490: Seeks to ban text messaging by all drivers. Also cites “additional technology activities” requiring use of hands while driving, such as accessing the Internet, playing MP3s and using cameras. Excludes cell phones. Fines: $250 (first offense) then $500 and then $1,000. (Miley)
HB 2555: Would outlaw text messaging while driving via wireless communications devices. Fines $50 (first offense), then $100 and then $200. Also cites Internet use but excludes the entering of phone numbers for cell phone calls. No points. House Judiciary Committee substitute of Feb. 10 made significant changes: Bill now call for secondary enforcement; changes offense from misdemeanor to infraction; changes fines to $100/$200/$400. Latest action: OK’d by the House in a 92-5 vote on Feb. 17. (Martin)
Senate Bill 209: Would prohibit text messaging for all drivers in West Virginia. Primary enforcement. Misdemeanor. Fines $50 (first offense), then $100 and then $200. No points. Same as original version of HB 2555, above. (Unger)
SB 470: Would prohibit text messaging while driving. Includes Internet use. Primary enforcement. Misdemeanor. Fines $50 (first offense), then $100 and then $200. No points. Similar to SB 209/HB 2555. (Unger)
2010 cell phone, texting legislation (dead)
An Interim Joint Committee on Roads and Transportation developed HB 4013 for the 2010 session that would ban both text messaging and handheld phone use for drivers. In a compromise, the bill calls for texting while driving to be a primary offense, but use of a handheld cell phone would be a secondary offense. Meaning a law officer could pull over a driver solely for text messaging, but would need another reason to stop a violator talking on a cell phone. The compromise emerged from the committee on Dec. 9, 2009, after a good deal of debate. Update: The bill had traction but failed to advance in 2010.
Delegate Nancy Guthrie, D-Kanawha, says she’s not sure she’ll be lead sponsor of the distracted driving bill this year. Guthrie saw her bill on texting and cell phoning die on the last night of the 2009 regular session, and now says, “I may let someone else introduce it and try to run it through the judiciary committee.” She wanted primary enforcement for both distracted driving offenses in the 2011 plan (above), but said she was “realistic enough to know that this is a start.”
Earlier this fall, Delegate Guthrie told HandsFreeInfo.com: “The question before the committee is whether or not to reintroduce last year’s legislation or strip out restrictions on cell phone use and only try to pass a bill restricting texting.” She called the idea of stripping out cell phone restrictions “stunning.” The secondary enforcement provision of the new bill was a compromise that kept the handheld cell phone ban alive.
Under the bill, text messaging would bring fines of $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second and $200 after that. Cell phone penalties would be $25, $50 and $75.
Gov. Joe Manchin says he supports a ban on driving and text messaging on West Virginia roads and highways. Motor Vehicles Commissioner Joe Miller lobbied for the draft legislation, noting that cell phone-related deaths fell by hundreds in California after its ban was enacted.
HB 4013: Would ban drivers from text messaging and the use of handheld cell phones, meaning hands-free accessories would have to be employed. Secondary enforcement. Fines of $25. (Guthrie)
HB 2995: Would prohibit text messaging while driving. Fines $100/$200/$500. (Eldridge)
HB 2141: Would prohibit drivers under age 18 with level 1 and 2 licenses from using all wireless communications devices. Secondary enforcement. Fines $25/$50/$75. (Romine)
West Virginia Senate Bill 438: Would make text messaging while driving a primary offense and use of a handheld cell phone a secondary offense. Fines for texting $50/$100/$200. Fnes for using cell phones without a hands-free device $25/$50/$75. No points. Similar to HB 4013, above. (Unger)
SB 167: Seeks to prohibit all drivers from texting while driving. Secondary enforcement. Fines up to $100. Up to 3 points. (Unger)
SB 52: Would outlaw use of cell phones while driving unless a hands-free attachment is employed. Fines $100/$200/$500 no points. (Guills-Foster)
SB 367: Seeks to outlaw use of “additional technology” for handheld devices that provide access to digital media content such as text messages, e-mail, the Internet and games. Fines $100/$250/$500. (Minard)
2010 legislation notes
“I think House members, having passed legislation last year to curb texting and cell phone use while driving, will be very receptive to a similar bill emerging from the Senate,” House Speaker Rick Thompson told the Herald-Dispatch. “I will be interested to see exactly what the Senate produces.”
Sen. John Unger, D-Berkeley, sponsor of two distracted driving bills, noted: “There are folks who are advocating the ban of cell phones altogether in use on the roads,” Unger said. “We’ll see what comes out of committee. … I think (SB 438) has a pretty good shot at passing.”
“Even Oprah is pounding on this,” Unger said of distracted driving laws.
The 2009 legislation that was approved by the House failed to get through the Senate because of an unrelated last-minute amendment.
2009 cell phone, texting legislation:
HB 2621: Would have outlawed use of a wireless handheld communications device unless a hands-free accessory is attached. Included cell phones and text messaging devices. Versions were approved by the West Virginia House on March 27, 2009, and by the Senate on April 9, but died on the final night of the session due to an unrelated amendment tacked on by a senator.
HB 2995: Would prohibit text messaging while driving. Fines $100/$200/$500. (Similar to SB 131) Note HB 1876 above. Note: Carried over to 2010 session.
SB 131: Would prohibit drivers from using cell phones on West Virginia roads unless a hands-free device is employed, such as a headset or speaker system that does not require the use of hands.
2009 legislation notes:
State Sen. Dan Foster, D-Kanawha, plans to introduce legislation in 2010 that would ban text messaging and use of handheld cell phones while operating a motor vehicle in West Virginia. (Update: SB 52, above.) He supported similar legislation in 2009.
The 2009 legislation that was approved by the House was sunk in the Senate by a last-minute amendment regarding cell phone tower placements. “”It was just one of those thoughtless amendments that a member put in without considering all the work the three committees had put into the bill,” Delegate Guthrie said.
2009’s anti-text messaging bill HB 2995 was introduced in mid-March by Delegate Jeff Eldridge, D-Lincoln. It calls for secondary enforcement, meaning drivers could not be pulled over solely for text messaging or using handheld cell phones. The fine will be $25 with no driver’s license points or court costs.
Under SB 131 and HB 2995, fines would start at $100 and increase to $500 with three violations. No points would be assessed on the West Virginia driver’s license. Under HB 2621, fines would be capped at $25 with no points.
Gov. Joe Manchin proposed a ban on text messaging while driving, in response to the Los Angeles commuter train crash. “Texting, cell phones, all this,” Manchin told the Charleston Daily Mail. “I think it’s come to the point now that we see how distractive they are.”
Manchin later told the Register-Herald: “Some legislators asked me my opinion on (West Virginia cell phone and texting legislation). “It makes sense to me. I’m the one who is as guilty as anybody.”
Previous cell phone, texting legislation
In the winter 2008 session, the House narrowly approved a bill that would have made using a cell phone while driving a secondary offense, but it died in the Senate. Kanawha County Delegate Nancy Peoples’ cell-phone legislation inspired plenty of public debate. (HB 4047: Would require drivers to use hands-free devices while making cell phone calls. Drivers’ use of text-messaging devices would be prohibited. School bus drivers would be prohibited from using cell phones.)
“The facts are indisputable. Distracted driving puts all of us in danger,” Peoples wrote on her blog. “This legislation will give us a means to begin gathering data on how many accidents result from drivers who become distracted while using cell phones.”
Sen. Jeffrey Kessler, head of the Judiciary Committee, joined other lawmakers in the 2008 session seeking a ban on texting while driving.
The school bus driver ban on cell phone use was enacted in September 2008 by the state Board of Education.
Honestly, cell phones are not the problem I see with a lot of drivers in West Virginia. The sad truth is that most of the people in Southern West Virginia simply do not know how to driver properly and safely. The biggest one I see is children in the back seat. I can’t even count how many times I’ve watched a parent/guardian reaching behind the seat to hand a screaming child something or to do something with an infant WHILE DRIVING. There are rules for teen drivers not to have distractions (friends, etc) in the car and I believe there should be rules for children / infants as well.
I see cops texting all the time!!! Are they exempted? No! This bill exempts no one! That includes talking on two-way radios like coppers, EMS, Fire, ARES units, SKYWARN units,Feds, Airplane pilots, Riverboat pilots, Railroad workers and such! There are NO exemptions! Read the law and decide for yourself!
I’ve been rear ended twice in the last two years because of cell phone usage in WV, and I am sick and tired of it! I know you’re all talking about radios, eating, smoking, passengers, etc. as reasons of why this law feels unfair to you. While I do understand your frustration and some of your points, cell phone usage takes a lot of focus and attention away from what the driver is supposed to be doing. The other activities mentioned don’t cause nearly as much distraction. While many people may have the skills to avoid killing other people while using this technology, it’s the other 80% that I worry about. Most people do not have the multitasking skills required to drive 65+ miles per hours while looking at a cell phone. I have been in many states that prohibit text and hand held devices, and it’s not a problem. I fully support this new law! Finally some sanity in WV!
I am totally against texting and talking while driving. this is my story: on a cold morning in 2005 I was on my way home I had to stop not even 3 minutes from my house because I was waiting on the traffic coming toward me to pass when someone hit me from behind going 55 mph. Which threw me into on coming traffic. I broke my back, have pins in my right leg, pins in my left ankle, and had my right shoulder replaced. i spent almost two years in a wheel chair and going through exensive therapy and I live with pain every day 24 hrs. a day. i cant clean my own house or stand long enough to even cook a meal. All because someone felt it was important to answer his cell phone.
Like so many have stated, talking on the phone is the same as talking to anyone in the car. I would like to know, who is going to pull over the Cops that do this pretty much all the time? You can watch a cop in any town, drive past you with a phone to his ear. Unless I overlooked it, I didn’t see where it says its ok to break the law if you are a cop, or if it’s related to work. Did anyone see that wrote ANYWHERE??
I live in the Eastern Panhandle and see many persons still texting and driving and usingh hand held cell phones and driving. I have not noticed any signs on highways entering into WV that says those actions are banned and unlawful in WV. Crossing into MD there are signs stating the unlawfulness of those actions. When will WV post signs stating the unlawfulnwess of those actions? Soon I hope. Thanks.
I amost lost my life due to a cell phone. I am so thankful it has become a law to use them while driving. I spent 2 years of my life in theapy learn to walk again. I live in pain all the time. In my accident i was stopped for traffic coming. And was hit in the back of my car by a car going 55 in turn it sent me in the other lane where i was hit head on by a car going 45 as a result i had to have a shoulder replaced,broke my back, slice the top of the tiba on my right leg off, and sliced my left ankle off. So once again i am thrilled that this has became a law,so no one else will have to go thru this or lose a loved one or a friend.
I am a survior and in pain everyday of my life. From someone hitting be in the back of my car that was stopped and he was going 55 and he went to answer his cell and when he looked up i was there and it was too late he thru me into on coming traffic so not only did i get hit by the person going 55 i also got hit head by a car going 45. It is by gods grace i am here. Thank you for finally making it alaw while driving.
I can agree with the no texting while driving. But not talking on your cell phone. If you can’t talk & drive at the same time, then you should not be driving at all!
It is a shame that it takes a law to stop us from doing something that we should have the common sennse to do anyway, you don’t hear of an acident being caused by listening to the radio, or talking to a other passengers, if this is a distraction for you then you either don’t need to drive or drive alone with out radio etc. I dont like it that goverment has to make laws to keep us making a mistake that we should be able to do on our own. … But mainly don’t do it so we will not be responsible for the injury or worse death of a nother person especialy a child.
It is stupid to enforce a law against persons with calling cell phones as a conversation, because then you would not be allowed to have passengers. Then to take it a step forward, such as radios and eating ect. It is just another way of making more money for their company and job security.
If we are to eliminate everything that causes distraction while driving then we must also remove radios, stop all drinking and food consumption and most definitely remove all children from vehicles. Then we’ll all be safe.
Another case of the actions of the few affecting the rule of the many. I use cell phone daily for work, much of it drive-time, and have been since mid-1999. Prior to owning a touchscreen phone, I did text, however I did not have to look at the phone to do so. Like typing on a computer, you learn where and what to push. And to be truthful, I found touchscreens too hard to type on and rarely even use texts anymore because of it.
The only time I have ever witnessed an accident where a cell phone was involved was when a woman was attempting to plug in her headset and rear-ended the car in front of her.
I see this legislation the same as the gun control laws… those that are already using them responsibly are having laws heaped upon them without consent while those that are irresponsible will continue to be irresponsible regardless of what laws are passed.
This is complete BS. That was one of the best things about living in WV. I drive through MD and PA on my way to work every day, and I drive through VA on weekends. WV was the only state that I didn’t have to worry about crap like this.
People that can’t talk and look where they are going shouldn’t be driving. I do not like Texting while driving because it turns ur entire attention off the road, but talking on the phone is NO more of a distraction than talking to the person next to you, talking to the group of people in the car, or yelling at the kids fighting in the backseat.
Like I said, that was one of the last things that I liked about living in WV. Things keep changing like this, I’ll move and take my tax money to another state.
Guess if I get pulled over, I’ll just say that I was using my GPS, which I do quite frequently on my iPhone 4.
im on both sides because i dont think you can outlaw stupidness but than again if we dnt do something about us teens are in alot of trouble n could lead to death id never txt n driver and honestly i dont see how other people do it i couldnt take my ees off the road but ya im just saying this because im on both sides
Here we go again, now they’re going to trample our freedom of speech rights. Talking on the phone is not a distraction, no more than listening to the radio or carrying on a conversation with someone in the car. I was a firefighter/paramedic and I never responed to a wreck caused by talking on the phone. I’ve had one either in the car or a cell phone since the eighties and have had NO problems. Texting is wrong I agree but simple talking, come on, if you can’t talk and drive- park it. While they’re at it why not outlaw car radios, that’s a distraction. Kids in the back seat are a worse distraction, let’s get rid of them. Eventually there will be so many laws you won’t be able to do anything. Every politician wants to pass a law so if they all do, what’s that leave for the rest of us?
I’m sorry, but there have been too many situations where people using cell phones while driving have caused accidents, nearly hit pedestrians, etc. Using the cell phone to talk shouldn’t be a secondary offense it needs to be a primary offense. its the only way to stop it…. hands free head sets are not expensive and can easily be used AND allow you to keep both hands on the wheel where they belong
I agree that there should be bans on cell phone use while driving. This includes text messaging and especially talking and any other cell phone use while driving. The act of it is very distracting. My son and his wife almost died in a car crash as a result of the other driver talking on the cell phone while driving. My daughter-in-law spent seven weeks in the hospital, six surgeries, about a year and a half of hard core therapies, had to learn to walk, talk, and use her brain again. She is now disabled. As for my son, he suffers from migraine headaches everyday to say the least. So please, think before using the cell phone while driving. We need to ban cell phone use while driving.
If cell phone usage while driving is a distraction an needs to be banned then these morons should also ban talking to passangers, eating an drinking, radios, an most of all bill boards