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, April 8, 2013
Del. Rob Krupicka kicked off his re-election campaign in March.
Del. Rob Krupicka (D-45th) is hosting three legislative wrap-up sessions in his district this month, giving residents an opportunity to ask questions and have a dialogue concerning the 2013 session of the General Assembly. Krupicka is hosting one session in each of the jursidictions included in the 45th District—Alexandria, Fairfax County and Arlington County. Each session is expected to last an hour. His legislative wrap-up schedule is as follows: Krupicka, a former Alexandria City Councilman and former member of the Virginia Board of Education, was elected delegate during a special election in September 2012. He kicked off his re-election campaign last month at Capitol City Brewing in Shirlington with endorsements from State Sen. Barbara…
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Alexandria area-senators Adam Ebbin and Charniele Herring vote against amendment that will prohibit certain health insurance companies in Virginia from providing coverage for women seeking an abortion.
By Mark Robinson Capital News Service The General Assembly on Wednesday narrowly approved an amendment by Gov. Bob McDonnell that will prohibit certain health insurance companies in Virginia from providing coverage for women seeking an abortion. McDonnell added the anti-abortion amendment to House Bill 1900, sponsored by Delegate Thomas Davis Rust (R-Herndon). The assembly passed the bill in February to comply with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Under the system, Virginians who cannot afford health insurance will participate in a federally operated health insurance exchange. McDonnell’s amendment will prohibit insurers participating in the exchange from covering abortion except in the case of rape or incest or if …
Monday, March 18, 2013
Local lawmakers will deliver a petition Monday morning to repeal the hybrid tax.
Del. Scott Surovell (D-44th) and Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-30th District) will deliver a petition to Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell in Richmond Monday morning from residents who want to repeal the hybrid vehicle tax. The Virginia General Assembly recently passed HB2313, which includes a $100 tax on hybrid vehicles. In late February, Surovell and Ebbin started an online petition against the hybrid tax. The petition garnered slightly less than 7,000 signatures as of Sunday afternoon, according to a Facebook update from Surovell. "The $100 hybrid tax punishes virtuous behavior, bears zero relationship to reduced road taxes paid, and disincentives energy independence," Del. Surovell said in a column published on Patch in Februrary. • Interested in …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Bill would impose harsher penalties, make texting while driving a primary offense.
A bill that would impose tougher penalties on those convicted of texting while driving cleared the state Senate on Tuesday and now heads to the desk of Gov. Bob McDonnell. The bill increases the fine to $250—up from $20—for the first texting-while-driving offense and $500 for each subsequent conviction. It also makes texting while driving an aggravating circumstance to reckless driving, and so anyone convicted of such would face a mandatory minimum $500 penalty if they were texting while they were driving recklessly. Texting while driving would also become a primary offense, which means police can stop someone on the suspicion that a driver is texting; current law allows police to charge someone with texting while driving only if they've …
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Alexandria-area representatives to answer questions about General Assembly session.
Del. Rob Krupicka (D-45th) and Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-30th) are hosting a town hall meeting from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Charles Houston Recreation Center in Old Town Alexandria to discuss this winter's General Assembly session. The Alexandria-area representatives will be taking comments and questions during the 90-minute session. No RSVP is necessary. Krupicka, a former member of both the Alexandria City Council and the Virginia Board of Education, was elected to the House of Delegates in a special election in September 2012. Visit Richmond Sunlight for a detailed look at the bills Krupicka has worked on this session. Ebbin is in his first term as senator, winning election to the office in 2011. He was previously a state delegate …
Legislation in Virginia's House of Delegates could prevent teens under 15 from using indoor tanning salons and require those older to get parental permission.
- GOVERNMENT
-
Tuesday, February 12
By Allison Landry, Capital News Service Virginians under age 15 would no longer be able to use indoor tanning salons under legislation moving through the General Assembly. The Senate recently approved Senate Bill 1274, which would prohibit individuals 14 and younger “to use a tanning device at a tanning facility.” It would also require 15 to 17 year olds to get parental or guardian consent before visiting a tanning parlor, with the exception of emancipated minors –teenagers who are legally adults because of a court order, marriage or military service. The bill could become law, pending the outcome of a House vote. It is waiting to be reviewed in the House Committee on Commerce and Labor. “The goal is to try to reduce incidents of cancer…
Monday, January 28, 2013
Potomac Yard Metro Tax Increment Bill was introduced by Del. Rob Krupicka (D-45th).
Alexandria city officials and members of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce are scheduled to testify in a state committee hearing Monday in support of a bill to generate state funding for a Potomac Yard Metro station. The Potomac Yard Metro Tax Increment Bill (HB-1650), introduced by Del. Rob Krupicka (D-45th), provides that if an infill Metro station is constructed in a service district in a locality—in this case, the city of Alexandria—then the locality is entitled to retain the sales and use tax revenue generated in the district to pay bonds issued to construct the station. The bill would place a $1.25 million a year cap on the tax revenue retained. The state would support approximately 10 percent of the cost of the Metro construction …
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
The “Reduce Gun Danger Act, “Mental Health First Aid“ proposal and “Flexible School Security Act” are designed to curb gun violence and offer protection to schools and families.
Delegate Rob Krupicka (D-45) has introduced three bills designed to curb gun violence and protect Virginia families. The package of bills “offer a coordinated first step toward addressing the current problem with gun violence, particularly in our schools,” according to a statement from Krupicka. “They give new tools and flexibility to communities so that they can better protect themselves from dangerous situations,” he said. “I am looking forward to working with colleagues from both parties on these and other measures to keep our schools and communities safe.” Bryan Porter, assistant commonwealth’s attorney for the City of Alexandria, said he supports the measures, calling the Reduce Gun Danger Act and Flexible School Security Act “common…
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Governor lays out proposals, challenges in speech to state lawmakers.
Transportation funding, teacher raises and restoring rights to non-violent offenders were a few of the topics explored Wednesday night by Gov. Bob McDonnell in his State of the Commonwealth speech at the Capitol in Richmond. "The Virginia General Assembly has met in this building for 220 years — the Speaker was just a young boy during that first session," the governor said, grinning at Speaker Bill Howell (R-28th) seated behind him. "I ask that you not conclude this session without approving a long-term transportation funding plan for Virginia," said McDonnell to members of the General Assembly in the House Chamber. "Do not send me a budget that does not include new transportation funding. We are all out of excuses. We must act now." "We …
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 ›