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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>68384</law_id><section_number>46.2-341.20:6</section_number><catch_line>Prohibition on requiring use of handheld mobile telephone or texting; motor carrier penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Titling, Registration and Licensure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Licensure of Drivers</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="6.1">Commercial Driver's Licenses</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>No motor carrier shall allow or require its <span class="dictionary">drivers</span> to use a handheld mobile telephone or to text while driving a commercial <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>. Motor carriers violating this section are subject to a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> not to exceed $11,000. Civil penalties collected under this section shall be deposited into the <span class="dictionary">Highway</span> Maintenance and Operating Fund established pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Highway Maintenance and Operating Fund" href="/33.2-1530/">33.2-1530</a>. Pursuant to 49 C.F.R. &#xA7;&#xA0;386.81, the determination of the actual civil penalties assessed is based on consideration of information available at the time the claim is made concerning the nature and gravity of the violation and, with respect to the violator, the degree of culpability, history of prior <span class="dictionary">offenses</span>, ability to pay, effect on ability to continue to do business, and such other matters as justice and public safety may require. &#x201C;Driving,&#x201D; &#x201C;mobile telephone,&#x201D; &#x201C;texting,&#x201D; and &#x201C;use a handheld mobile telephone&#x201D; have the same meanings as assigned to them in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Prohibition on texting and use of handheld mobile telephone; penalties" href="/46.2-341.20_5/">46.2-341.20:5</a>.</p></section></text><history>2014, cc. 77, 803; 2020, cc. 1230, 1275.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
