Holding and Using a Mobile Phone While Driving Soon to be Illegal

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.

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