The state Senate pushed a law that could affect texting and driving rules. Sending a message while behind the wheel could now be enough to get you fined.
In the last year or so, Charlottesville and Albemarle County only handed out one citation each for texting and driving. Police blame some of that on the fact that they need the driver to be violating another traffic law to pull them over - but that could be changing.
Folks filling up have something to say about texting and driving.
Jarish Cohen, a driver, said, "I think I'll definitely be more conscientious about cellphone use and other people's cellphone use on the road."
Soon drivers could more easily face consequences for messaging behind the wheel. Andrea Saathoff, another driver, said, "I wouldn't want to get points on my license."
Police say most offenders wait for the stop light to take out their cells, maybe thinking it's not so obvious. Officer Jonathon Hickory with Albemarle County Police said, "They're looking down and they'll look up for just a second and they'll look down again."
That can turn into a scary situation. Police say checking those messages on the road makes you as good as a drunk driver with .08 to .10 blood alcohol content. Even with that risk, officers need another reason to legally pull you over.
Lt. Ronnie Roberts with Charlottesville Police said, "It's pretty difficult to prove in a secondary violation that they were texting."
A bill pushed forward by the state Senate Tuesday makes it so police could cite people just for texting behind the wheel. Hickory stated. "It would just make our job a little bit easier."
The police hope that a new law could mean more tickets, more awareness, and safer roads. Roberts stated, "You may see some changes in some driver behavior, and that's what its all about."
This bill still has to make it through the state House of Delegates. In Maryland, you can't even pick up your phone to make a call while driving, let alone text someone. Therefore, Virginia isn't the only state seeming to crack down on this dangerous behavior.
