2020 Virginia Legislative Session Updates

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  • February 1, 2020 at 10:54 pm #1104134
    Judd
    Participant

    These three pedestrian safety bills will be heard at 4 pm Monday in a Virginia House Transportation subcommittee. Please share this note with friends in Virginia who may live in a district of one of the Delegates listed below; ask them to contact their Delegate to support these important pedestrian safety initiatives.

    Delegate Levine’s HB247 – Increased Penalties; If a driver kills or seriously injures a person lawfully in a crosswalk, the driver could be charged with a Class 2 Misdemeanor, instead of a simple traffic violation (Class 4 misdemeanor)

    Delegate Plum’s HB1644 – Would make it illegal to pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk.

    Delegate Kory’s HB1705 – Requires drivers to yield to pedestrians by stopping.

    Contact information for Delegates in the Motor Vehicles Subcommittee Is provided below.

    Delegate Jerrauld C. “Jay” Jones (D) – Norfolk, 804-698-1089 DelJJones@house.virginia.gov
    Delegate Lamont Bagby (D) Richmond, 804-698-1074, DelLBagby@house.virginia.gov
    Delegate Chris L. Hurst (D), Blacksburg, 804 698-1012 DelCHurst@house.virginia.gov
    Delegate Karrie K. Delaney (D) Centreville, 804 698-1067 DelKDelaney@house.virginia.gov
    Delegate Lee J. Carter (D) Manassas, 804 698 -1050 DelLCarter@house.virginia.gov
    Delegate Dan I. Helmer (D) Fairfax, 804 698-1040 DelDHelmer@house.virginia.gov
    Delegate Les R. Adams (R) Chatham, 804-698-1016 DelLAdams@house.virginia.gov
    Delegate Dave A. LaRock (R) Hamilton, 804 698-1033 DelDLaRock@house.virginia.gov
    Delegate Christopher E. Collins (R), Winchester, 804 698-1029 DelCCollins@house.virginia.gov
    Delegate Jason S. Miyares (R), Virginia Beach 804 698-1082 DelJMiyares@house.virginia.gov

    Delegate Delores L. McQuinn (D), Richmond, 804 698-1070 DelDMcQuinn@house.virginia.gov Get those emails, cards and letters out this weekend!

    February 1, 2020 at 11:57 pm #1104138
    wheelswings
    Participant

    So the efforts to fix contributory negligence in Virginia are dead in the water… defeated 14 to 1… am I understanding that correctly?

    February 2, 2020 at 1:25 pm #1104151
    Judd
    Participant

    @wheels&wings 197850 wrote:

    So the efforts to fix contributory negligence in Virginia are dead in the water… defeated 14 to 1… am I understanding that correctly?

    Yes. Contributory negligence is dead this year. Scott Surovell introduced it and was the only one that voted for it in committee.

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    February 2, 2020 at 5:33 pm #1104158
    wheelswings
    Participant

    @Judd 197863 wrote:

    Yes. Contributory negligence is dead this year. Scott Surovell introduced it and was the only one that voted for it in committee.

    Good heavens, what a backwards state we live in, right alongside Alabama, Maryland and North Carolina. Pathetic.

    April 16, 2020 at 1:41 pm #1105722
    Dewey
    Participant

    HB 1705 was signed by Gov Northam last Saturday April 11, source: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=201&typ=bil&val=hb1705
    This marks the end of a particularly successful year for passing bicycle and e-bike friendly legislation. To summarize, the following are now adopted into Virginia state law:

    – The 3-Class People for Bikes/BPSA model e-bike legislation
    – Class 1 misdemeanor for a careless or distracted driver to hit and injure a cyclist or e-bike rider on the road
    – Speed cameras permitted in school or work zones
    – Ban on use of handheld cell phones while driving
    – Vehicle drivers now are required to stop when yielding to pedestrians, cyclists, or e-bikes at (i) crosswalks; (ii) pedestrian crossings; (iii) an intersection on a <35mph road; and no overtaking or passing a stopped vehicle giving way to other road users under these circumstances, this will enable policing problem driver behavior at intersections and crosswalks.

    Good start, now hopefully the Assembly will face down the car insurance lobby next year and every year thereafter until Contributory Negligence is repealed.

    April 16, 2020 at 4:48 pm #1105713
    Relwal Noj
    Participant

    @Dewey 200196 wrote:

    HB 1705 was signed by Gov Northam last Saturday April 11, source: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=201&typ=bil&val=hb1705
    This marks the end of a particularly successful year for passing bicycle and e-bike friendly legislation. To summarize, the following are now adopted into Virginia state law:

    – The 3-Class People for Bikes/BPSA model e-bike legislation
    – Class 1 misdemeanor for a careless or distracted driver to hit and injure a cyclist or e-bike rider on the road
    – Speed cameras permitted in school or work zones
    – Ban on use of handheld cell phones while driving
    – Vehicle drivers now are required to stop when yielding to pedestrians, cyclists, or e-bikes at (i) crosswalks; (ii) pedestrian crossings; (iii) an intersection on a <35mph road; and no overtaking or passing a stopped vehicle giving way to other road users under these circumstances, this will enable policing problem driver behavior at intersections and crosswalks.

    Good start, now hopefully the Assembly will face down the car insurance lobby next year and every year thereafter until Contributory Negligence is repealed.

    Thanks for the great summary! Are these laws effective now or after July 1?

    April 17, 2020 at 12:37 pm #1105736
    Sunyata
    Participant

    @Relwal Noj 200200 wrote:

    Thanks for the great summary! Are these laws effective now or after July 1?

    July 1.

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