| Shawna Morrison

shawna.morrison@roanoke.com, 381-1665

Starting next month, people caught sending text messages or e-mails while driving could face fines.

The General Assembly passed a law this year banning texting and e-mailing while driving. First-time offenders will be fined $20; after that, the fine will increase to $50.

"I think anything that helps keep people focused on the road when driving is a good thing," Blacksburg police Lt. Joe Davis said.

It was two years ago this month when a Virginia Tech student sending a text message lost control of her SUV in downtown Blacksburg, crashing into a group of people on the sidewalk in front of Big Al's Grille & Sports Bar just after 2 a.m., as bars were closing.

Mary Elizabeth Bowen of Winchester was charged and convicted of driving under the influence and three counts of maiming while DUI. Three of the people she struck suffered serious injuries that caused permanent damage, including scarring.

Bowen was sentenced to spend one year and 10 days in jail, and some of the victims filed civil suits against her.

Radford police Chief Don Goodman said he didn't recall any serious crashes in Radford caused by texting while driving, but said he is glad to see the law in place.

Christiansburg police Maj. Dalton Reid said driving "requires undivided attention and is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly."

He said he thinks the law will reduce the number of crashes related to driver inattention, especially among teenagers.

Texting while driving will be a secondary offense, meaning a law enforcement officer must have a different reason to pull over a driver.

It has several exceptions, including emergency vehicle operators, drivers who are reporting an emergency or drivers who are parked, Melanie Stokes, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, said.

Last year, she said, 114 people died and 14,480 were injured in Virginia in 28,395 crashes that involved driver distraction. It is unclear how many of those crashes were related to texting or sending e-mails.

Other driving-related laws that go into effect July 1 include:

n Drivers who are convicted of driving while intoxicated for the second time within 10 years must have an ignition interlock system installed on all the vehicles they own or co-own to obtain restricted or full driving privileges;

n People who are ordered to use an ignition interlock device and are caught driving without one can be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor and face a one-year license revocation;

n DMV-approved crash prevention courses may be offered online to drivers 55 and older, and insurance companies may offer a discount to drivers who complete them.