Sunday, April 14, 2013
"No officer, I was just typing directions into my GPS…"
Texting while driving is dangerous, but some people do it anyway. This year, Virginia's General Assembly passed a measure that increased the fine to $125 (it was $20) for the first infraction and $250 for the second. But Virginia legislators did not pass a hands-free measure like they have in the District, and as such enforcing the law could prove difficult. The problem: Using cell phones to dial a number or setting the phone GPS is legal. “Distracted driving is a big problem, but it’s bigger than just phone use,” said Russ Rader of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, to the Washington Post. “Even if a law were successful in stopping phone use and texting, it wouldn’t eliminate distracted driving.” Northern Virginia Del. Scott …
Monday, February 4, 2013
Preparing for U.S. monetary collapse, proposal from Del. Bob Marshall would weigh need for Commonwealth's own gold and silver coins.
A measure introduced by local Del. Bob Marshall (R-Manassas) to study a Virginia currency is now in front of the state Senate after approval from the House of Delegates on Monday. The House voted, 65-32, for the study of a metallic-based monetary unit in the event the U.S. dollar crumbles. Read the entire bill, as approved by the House. According to the bill, the committee would meet four times this year to "consider recommendations for legislation, with respect to the need, means and schedule for establishing a metallic-based monetary unit to serve as a contingency currency for the Commonwealth." The bill sets the maximum cost of the committee's work at $17,440. What do you think of the proposal for a Virginia currency? Tell us in the …
Thursday, January 31, 2013
One of meetings is in Nokesville and the other is in Manassas
Del. Richard Anderson is planning two town hall meetings Saturday for his constitutes to discuss the current session of the Virginia General Assembly. Anderson said he will host two town hall meetings—the first in Manassas and the second in Nokesville—so none of his residents will have an extra long drive across the county. He held a similar meeting Jan. 12 for constitutes living in eastern Prince William County. Anderson represents House District 51, which includes parts of Manassas, Nokesville and parts of Woodbridge, where he lives. The Manassas meeting is from 10 to noon at the Oak Hill General Store at, 12203 Kahns Rd. The second meeting is from 1 to 3 p.m. at 2826 Marsteller Drive in Nokesville. Residents should come prepared to …
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The pathway to a robust system of public education is through reforms that empower teachers, bring greater accountability to schools, and give localities more flexibility over state funding.
As I and my fellow legislators conclude the third week of the 2013 legislative session of the Virginia General Assembly, this past week in Richmond saw a second round of snow, but the light dusting wasn’t enough to stop the movement of bills through the House of Delegates. In recent days, officials announced that Virginia’s unemployment rate fell to 5.5 percent, the lowest since 2008 and the lowest in the Southeast. The key has been joint efforts in making a positive, pro-growth jobs environment our top priority. The formula for positive economic growth is simple: Continuation of Virginia’s low tax rates, elimination of unnecessary regulations, and developing a skilled and educated workforce. Simply put this lowest unemployment rate …
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Lawmakers gather at the state Capitol.
The Virginia General Assembly convened Wednesday for its 2013 session at the state Capitol in Richmond. Senators and delgates have plenty of hot-button issues to tackle in the next 45 days such as transportation, school security, gun laws and uranium mining. As they arrived, lawmakers likely saw several hundred protesting demonstrators on both sides of the abortion debate demonstrating outside of the Capitol. According to Richmond Sunlight, the 100 members of the House of Delegates have filed 1,153 bills and the 40 members of the Senate have filed 597. The 140 elected representatives are from an equal number of constituent districts across the commonwealth. The House of Delegates is presided over by the Speaker of the House. The Senate is…
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
House of Delegates Speaker says review likely to come on laws restricting gun ownership for the mentally ill.
House of Delegates Speaker William Howell, R-Stafford, told WTOP Connecticut has stricter gun laws than Virginia. "It goes way beyond gun control," Howell said, referring to the killings at Sandy Hook. Howell told WTOP he expects the 2013 General Assembly to review restrictions on gun ownership for the mentally ill and proposals for increased school security. The General Assembly meets for 30 days in odd-numbered years, with an option to extend annual sessions for a maximum of 30 days, according to the General Assembly website. This year's session begins on January 9. Related Stories on Gun Control and School Security: Letter to the Editor: Striving for What is Reasonable Letter to the Editor: Gun Legislation Virginia Educators Rebut …
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Bill approved by Senate committee, but Senate sends it back.
The Virginia Senate voted 24-14 Thursday afternoon to send the "personhood" bill back to committee and carry it over to 2013. Senate Republican Leader Tommy Norment of James City County made the motion to shelve the bill, saying more study is needed. The vote came hours after the Senate Education and Health Committee endorsed the measure on an 8-7 party-line vote, with Democrats voting against it. Original story: A bill supporting Personhood – defining that life starts at conception – was approved Thursday in a Virginia Senate Health and Education committee hearing. Eight Republicans voted for HB1, and seven Democrats opposed it after an hour-long hearing. The bill passed after an amendment clarifying that no provision in it would …
Friday, November 18, 2011
Virginia's Attorney General told gun rights advocates he considers the school's gun ban bad policy that doesn't promote safety.
The Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) was certain Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli had sold them out. “His opinion on the GMU ban went against us,” said VCDL Vice President Jim Snyder in his introduction of Cuccinelli at Thursday night’s membership meeting in the Mason Governmental Center. Cuccinelli soon allayed the group’s fears: “As Attorney General I cannot undercut my client by going out and saying something like, ‘You’re idiots for doing this.’ But the case is over, and I can now say I think they’re crazy.” In January 2011, the Virginia Supreme Court upheld George Mason University's prohibition against guns in campus buildings and at sports and entertainment events. The Attorney General’s office had written a legal opinion …
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T Ailshire
8:30 am on Thursday, April 18, 2013
Obviously, you've operated under two assumptions I believe are flawed. First, I have personally observed police officers - not "glancing" at their laptops, but head turned toward it and 6-10 seconds when AT BEST they had peripheral eyes on the road. I have been the vehicle immediately behind said officers on more than one occasion. It follows if I have observed it on more than one occasion this … more ›