West Virginia bans texting, handheld cell phone use while driving

West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin on Tuesday, April 3, signed a bill making the state the 36th to ban texting while driving. Beginning July 1, law enforcement officers will conduct primary enforcement of this law, meaning they can ticket a driver for texting while driving without any other traffic offense taking place.

The new law also outlaws handheld cell phone use while driving beginning July 1; however, until July 1, 2013, the handheld law will be secondary enforcement, meaning drivers only can be cited for handheld cell phone if they are committing another traffic violation.