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ANSTED (WVVA) - Two individuals were taken into custody in Fayette County after placing a false 911 call. A call was received through the Fayette County 911 Center at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday stating a pairMore >> ANSTED (WVVA) - Two individuals were taken into custody in Fayette County after placing a false 911 call. A call was received through the Fayette County 911 Center at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday stating a pairMore >> BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) -- A former Massey Energy official who is cooperating in the investigation of the Upper Big Branch mine disaster is asking a judge for leniency when he's sentenced Aug. 1. DefenseMore >> BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) -- A former Massey Energy official who is cooperating in the investigation of the Upper Big Branch mine disaster is asking a judge for leniency when he's sentenced Aug. 1. DefenseMore >> PRINCETON (NEWS RELEASE) - In July 2008, The Del McCoury Band took the stage for the inaugural show of the community's first performing arts center of its kind. One hundred and seven regular season performancesMore >> PRINCETON (NEWS RELEASE) - In July 2008, The Del McCoury Band took the stage for the inaugural show of the community's first performing arts center of its kind. One hundred and seven regular season performancesMore >> ATHENS (WVVA) - Crews responded to I-77 northbound near mile marker 17 Tuesday morning after a vehicle crashed through a guard rail and over the embankment. Only one vehicle was involved. There's no wordMore >> ATHENS (WVVA) - A woman was transported to a nearby hospital after a vehicle went off Interstate 77 and over an embankment Tuesday. The crash occurred at approximately 10 a.m. around mile marker 17 --More >> Mercer County Sheriff's Deputies are investigating an armed robbery in Green Valley Tuesday. It happened at Pop's Sports Bar on Maple Acres Road around 3:15a.m. According to dispatchers, detectivesMore >> Mercer County Sheriff's Deputies are investigating an armed robbery in Glenwood Tuesday. The Mercer County Sheriff's Office says a male entered Pop's Sports Bar on Maple Acres Road around 3 a.m. by smashingMore >> BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) -- A Fayette County man faces charges of sexually assaulting a female patient in the psychiatric ward at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital. Beckley police tell media outlets thatMore >> BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) -- A Fayette County man faces charges of sexually assaulting a female patient in the psychiatric ward at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital. Beckley police tell media outlets thatMore >> Bluefield (WVVA) -- A very small, isolated thunderstorm brought intense rainfall to the Beckley area Monday night. This slow-moving storm dumped upwards of 2-3 inches in just an hour to MacArthur, Daniels,More >> Bluefield (WVVA) -- A very small, isolated thunderstorm brought intense rainfall to the Beckley area Monday night. This slow-moving storm dumped upwards of 2-3 inches in just an hour to MacArthur, Daniels,More >> Buchanan County authorities arrest a man after finding a meth lab in his home. A narcotics task force team arrested Eddie Dwayne Green, 38, of Puncheon Camp Road Saturday afternoon. The team was executingMore >> Buchanan County authorities arrest a man after finding a meth lab in his home. A narcotics task force team arrested Eddie Dwayne Green, 38, of Puncheon Camp Road Saturday afternoon. The team was executingMore >> The Town of Tazewell is getting nearly $60,000 in state grants to hire two school resource officers. The resource officers will be placed at Tazewell High School and Tazewell Middle School. The CriminalMore >> The Town of Tazewell is getting nearly $60,000 in state grants to hire two school resource officers. The resource officers will be placed at Tazewell High School and Tazewell Middle School. The CriminalMore >>
RICHMOND, VA. (WVVA) - New proposed legislation is looking to crack down on texting and driving.
State Delegate Benjamin Cline prefiled HB 1360 which would allow for reckless driving prosecution of distracted drivers.
Del. Scott Surovell, D–Mount Vernon, reportedly is prepping similar legislation which focuses on reckless driving.
These bills are coming up for a vote in a Senate committee next week.
The Courts of Justice Committee is scheduled to consider the legislation Friday as the General Assembly faces a Tuesday deadline for each chamber to act on its own bills.
Texting while driving is already punishable by a $20 fine, but it's a secondary offense. That means police can only write a ticket if they stopped the motorist for another violation.
One of the bills would increase the fine to $250 and make it a primary offense, allowing police to stop and ticket anyone they spot texting behind the wheel. Others would make texting while driving punishable as reckless driving, which can result in up to a year in jail.
