May 20, 2020
Due to a Richmond City ordinance,
beginning on Tuesday, June 9, it will be illegal to hold and use a
mobile phone while operating a motor vehicle in the City of Richmond.
This primary offense allows police
officers to take action whenever they observe a driver operating a motor
vehicle while using a handheld personal communications device, without having
to also observe evidence of distraction.
While the Commonwealth of Virginia has
passed a similar law which takes effect in 2021, in Richmond, beginning June 9,
2020, drivers using their handheld personal communications device while driving
on a public street or highway in the City of Richmond could be found guilty of
distracted driving and be fined.
“This ordinance will hopefully reduce the
occurrences of distracted driving in Richmond,” said Special Operations
Division Captain Don Davenport. “The goal is to increase the safety of all
who use the roadways, including pedestrians, bicyclists, joggers and other
drivers. We want all motorists to begin each trip by buckling up and putting
their phones down.”
The ordinance does not apply to drivers
lawfully stopped or parked, emergency vehicle drivers, such as police officers
and firefighters, drivers using a handheld communications device to report on
emergency, or drivers using a radio-based communications device during an
emergency or disaster relief operation.
Please see the graphic for answers to more
frequently asked questions.
