Handheld personal communications devices; holding devices while driving a motor vehicle, penalty.
Summary
Holding handheld personal communications devices while driving a motor vehicle. Prohibits any person from holding a handheld personal communications device while driving a motor vehicle. Current law prohibits (i) the reading of any email or text message and manually entering letters or text in such a device as a means of communicating and (ii) holding a personal communications device while driving in a work zone. The bill expands the exemptions to include handheld personal communications devices that are being held and used (a) as an amateur radio or a citizens band radio or (b) for official Department of Transportation or traffic incident management services. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2021. This bill incorporates SB 136 and SB 944 and is identical to HB 874.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2019
Committee Review
Feb 2020
Senate Passage
Jan 2020
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2020
Signed into Law
Mar 2020
Introduced Dec 19, 2019
Signed Mar 31, 2020
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
37
Key actions
11
Committee
11
Mar 31, 2020
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 543 (effective 1/1/21)
executive
Feb 25, 2020
Lower · Passed
Passed House with substitute (69-Y 29-N)
lower
Feb 25, 2020
Lower · Passed
Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB160H1
lower
Feb 25, 2020
Lower · Passed
Committee substitute agreed to 20108445D-H1
lower
Feb 20, 2020
Lower · Passed
Reported from Transportation with substitute (18-Y 4-N)
lower
Feb 20, 2020
Lower · Passed
House committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
lower
Feb 17, 2020
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 1-N)
lower
Feb 11, 2020
Committee
Assigned Transportation sub: Motor Vehicles
lower
Feb 3, 2020
Committee
Referred to Committee on Transportation
lower
Jan 29, 2020
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (33-Y 7-N)
upper
Jan 28, 2020
Upper · Passed
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB160S1
upper
Jan 28, 2020
Upper · Passed
Committee substitute agreed to 20106310D-S1
upper
Jan 23, 2020
Upper · Passed
Reported from Transportation with substitute (12-Y 3-N)
upper
Dec 19, 2019
Committee
Referred to Committee on Transportation
upper
Dec 19, 2019
Introduced
Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20100741D
upper
1 primary · 24 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Scott Surovell
DDemocratic
Co
Adam Ebbin
DDemocratic
Co
Barbara Favola
DDemocratic
Co
Bill Stanley
RRepublican
Co
CP
Chap Petersen
DDemocratic
Co
Creigh Deeds
DDemocratic
Co
Dave Marsden
DDemocratic
Co
DS
Dick Saslaw
DDemocratic
Co
GB
George Barker
DDemocratic
Co
Ghazala Hashmi
DDemocratic
Co
JH
Janet Howell
DDemocratic
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about SB 160
Scope: VA
Hi! I can help you understand SB 160. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline