RICHMOND (AP) -- Virginia drivers can continue to talk on cell phones and skirt seat belt laws for at least another year.
A House subcommittee Thursday killed bills that would have banned talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving and made not wearing a seat belt a primary offense. Currently, police can only issue citations for not wearing a seat belt if the driver is pulled over for another reason.
It also killed a bill to make talking on a cell phone while driving with a provisional license a primary offense.
The subcommittee voted in favor of a bill that would require anyone under the age of 18 to wear a seat belt in the rear seat of a vehicle. Currently, only those under 16 must wear seat belts in the rear seats.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
