Tougher Laws on DWI, Distracted Driving Now in Effect

DMV Urges Drivers to Avoid Dangers During July 4 Holiday Weekend

New laws that went into effect July 1 take a tougher stance on drinking and driving and driving while distracted.

Under the old law, a conviction of driving while intoxicated (DWI) was not considered a felony unless it was the third DWI conviction within 10 years. Effective July 1, any DWI conviction will be a felony if a person has a prior conviction of any of the following:

• Involuntary manslaughter alcohol
• Involuntary manslaughter alcohol boating
• DWI maiming
• Boating while intoxicated maiming
• DWI third offense or subsequent

A DWI felony conviction mandates a minimum fine of $1,000 and one year in prison.

Also as of July 1, texting while driving is a primary offense with increased penalties. Texting or reading text messages while driving is illegal for all drivers, no matter their age. Previously, texting while driving was a secondary offense and could only be charged when the offender was stopped for another, separate offense.

A texting while driving conviction will now carry a $125 fine for the first offense and $250 for the second or subsequent offenses. Previously, penalties were $20 for a first offense and $50 for a second or subsequent offense. The new law increases the punishment of any person convicted of reckless driving to include a $250 mandatory fine if the person was texting at the time of a reckless driving offense.

In 2012, more than 20 percent (28,112) of all crashes in Virginia (123,588) were attributed to driver distractions. More than 28,000 crashes resulted in 174 fatalities and 16,709 injuries. Nearly 1,700 crashes involved drivers using cell phone or texting while operating a motor vehicle.

"People are dying and being seriously injured because of drunk and distracted driving. Those offenses put not only the driver and their family in danger, but this risky behavior also jeopardizes everyone else traveling on the roadways," said DMV Commissioner Richard D. Holcomb, the Governor's Highway Safety Representative.

Virginia Distracted Driving Facts (for 2012)

• Most distracted driving crashes involved drivers 21 to 35 years old.
• Most distracted driver crashes occurred at the end of the week on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, between noon and 6 p.m.

The top three driver distractions last year were, in order:

• Drivers not having their eyes on the road.
• Fatigue.
• Cellphone use.

 

Source: The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicle

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Leesburg DMV Office Closed; County Offers DMV Select Services

Loudoun County officials remind residents that while the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles’ Customer Service Center in Leesburg is closed due to building maintenance, they can obtain certain DMV services from the Loudoun County Commissioner of the Revenue.

The Loudoun County Commissioner of the Revenue serves as a DMV Select agent, providing Virginia state vehicle registration, titling, and license plate services. The DMV Select services are available at the Commissioner’s offices in Leesburg, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., and Sterling, 21641 Ridgetop Circle, Suite 100. More information, including directions to the offices, is online at www.loudoun.gov/cor.

Also, while the Leesburg DMV office is closed, Loudoun County voter registration officials are not on site to accept applications. Prospective voters who wish to register in Loudoun County may do so at a number of other locations, including the Sterling office of the DMV, 100 Free Court, as well as the Loudoun County Office of the General Registrar, 750 Miller Drive, S.E., Suite C in Leesburg, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. As a DMV Select agent, the Commissioner of the Revenue also accepts voter registration applications.

More information, including a list of other locations for voter registration applications, is online at www.loudoun.gov/vote.

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The DMV... There's an App for That

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles recently launched an Android mobile operating system application that allows customers to access DMV services through their Android-based smartphones. The new VADMV app has a wide range of features including access to more than two dozen DMV transactions.

VADMV app users can set up a myDMV account, create a personal identification number and conduct a variety of transactions including renewing decals and driver's licenses.

The app has an office locator feature that uses a smartphone's global positioning system (GPS) to locate the customer, and to display the closest DMV offices and their average wait times. If users select a specific DMV office, details such as hours and HAZMAT fingerprinting availability are displayed. Users may tap or select the DMV office's address to obtain driving directions. If a customer wants to talk to a DMV representative before traveling to an office, tapping on the DMV phone number will automatically dial it.

All DMV sample knowledge exams are available through the VADMV app including the motorcycle license exam and commercial driver's license exam. Before taking a sample exam, DMV app users also can view the Virginia Driver's Manual.

If users want to purchase license plates, you may browse the more than 200 specialty plates offered in Virginia. Customers can use the app's interactive feature to try out different letter and number combinations, and create a personalized license plate.

The VADMV app also includes a News and Alerts feature where users can get the latest DMV news releases about traffic safety, new service options or upcoming office closures.

The free app is available through Virginia DMV's website at www.dmvNOW.com or through Andoid Market/Google Play. DMV is currently developing a similar iOS app for Apple-based products including iPhones and iPads.

Read more.

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Transportation Boards and Commissions to Broadcast Public Meetings Live on the Internet

Governor Bob McDonnell announced last week the ability for Virginia transportation Boards and Commissions to broadcast public meetings live via the Internet. Any public body in the Transportation Secretariat that holds its open meetings at the Department of Motor Vehicles headquarters in Richmond will have the ability to stream video of the proceedings online.

"Virginians interested in witnessing the important work that takes place during these meetings can log on to their laptops, PCs or smart phones for easy access," stated McDonnell.

DMV utilizes a Web portal called Ustream and the streaming meetings can be accessed from the DMV Web site at www.dmvnow.com/events. The inaugural broadcast will be a meeting of the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board this morning, Monday, May 10, at 8:30 a.m.

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