ROANOKE, Va – Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is reminding Virginians of the state’s new distracted driving law that goes into effect on Jan. 1. During a virtual press conference on Tuesday, Northam commended lawmakers for passing the new law, which makes holding any kind of device while driving illegal. I repeat 23,000 crashes in Virginia that were caused by distracted driving and 120 of those individuals lost their lives,” said the governor. Any driver in the state who violates the law could face a fine of up to $250.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va – The upcoming new year will also bring stricter penalties for texting and driving in the Commonwealth. While a new law banning texting and driving were passed earlier this year, officers have been focusing on education regarding distracted driving instead. Officers with Roanoke County say other states have passed similar laws with a grace period to allow drivers to get used to the change. “We are giving a six month period that way that the public can kind of educate themselves, and get used to the law and take effect and that’s why law enforcement has not taken any type of enforcement action towards the new legislation,” Roanoke County Police Officer Thurman Butts said. If a driver violates the new law, they could face fines up to $250.