Virginia Driving Hands Free Law

The Virginia driving hands free law prohibits having a cell phone or other handheld personal communication device in your hand while driving (Va. Code §46.2-818.2). The Commonwealth does not need to prove that the driver was doing anything in particular on the phone or device to convict a driver of violating this statute.

Virginia Driving Hands Free Law

Violation of the Virginia Driving Hands Free Law is Punished with a Fine and DMV Points

This law does not apply to drivers who are lawfully parked or stopped, drivers reporting emergencies, drivers using an amateur or citizens band radio, drivers operating emergency vehicles and certain operators of Department of Transportation vehicles.

Virginia Driving Hands Free Law

The Virginia driving hands free law prohibits drivers from having a cell phone in their hands for any reason while driving (Va. Code §46.2-818.2). It is a traffic infraction and is punished with a fine and DMV demerit points. A conviction for a first offense is punished with a fine of $125. A conviction for a second or subsequent offense is punished with a $250 fine. A conviction for violating this law in a highway work zone is punished with a mandatory $250 fine.

There is a mandatory minimum fine of $250 if a person is convicted of Reckless Driving and also had a cell phone or other handheld personal communications device in his or her hand at the time the driver committed the offense resulting in the Reckless Driving charge.

A conviction will also automatically result in 3 DMV demerit points on the person’s Virginia driving record and the conviction will remain on that record for 3 years.

 

***DISCLAIMER: THE MATERIAL AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS POST, ON ANY PAGES ON THIS WEBSITE, AND ON ANY PAGES LINKED FROM THESE PAGES, ARE FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND NOT LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONSULT A LICENSED ATTORNEY IN YOUR JURISDICTION BEFORE RELYING ON ANY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THESE PAGES. SENDING EMAIL TO OR VIEWING INFORMATION FROM THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT CREATE AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP***

tags: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |