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 …
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Members of the Virginia General Assembly returned home to Mount Vernon on Saturday to discuss the latest from Richmond.
Del. Scott Surovell (D-44th) and State Senators Adam Ebbin (D-30th) and Toddy Puller (D-36th) relayed the progress of their bills to constituents on Saturday at the Mount Vernon Governmental Center, and briefly discussed pending legislation before the 2013 session comes to a close Feb. 23. Surovell has been working to get a statewide ban on texting while driving. "Personally, I don't think the bill goes far enough," he said. "Right now, if the bill carries, you're still allowed to browse the Internet while driving, play music and look at your phone and play 'Angry Birds' while driving. It's also a lot harder to enforce, I think. I think it ought to be hands-free….But at least it's the first step." For the latest on bills in the 2013 …
Sunday, February 3, 2013
What will it mean for the Northern Virginia economy?
Sequestration — $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts to defense and civilian programs over the next decade — will likely happen, and it will mean thousands of layoffs, program eliminations and near-certain economic devastation for Northern Virginia, said Virginia Congressmen Jim Moran (D-8th) and Gerry Connolly (D-11th) on Saturday at a town hall meeting in Mount Vernon. "You need to be aware that this is probably going to happen," said Moran, who spoke at an annual meeting conducted by Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerry Hyland. "It's a democracy and things will ultimately play themselves out, but things are not going well right now (in Congress)." Congress averted the fiscal cliff crisis at the beginning of the year, and …
Monday, December 24, 2012
The latest and most popular Patch headlines from the past week.
After Newtown, McDonnell Forms School Safety Task Force Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell formed a task force that will focus on school and safety in the wake of last week’s mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. “Even with raw emotions still running so high, it is prudent to begin to consider reasonable policy changes,” McDonnell said in a statement Thursday. “In the aftermath of the horrific and senseless shootings, I have asked all local and state leaders that play a role in school or campus safety to review the procedures, plans, policies and resources dedicated to this effort.” After Newtown, NRA Ready to Make 'Meaningful Contributions' After four days of silence, the National Rifle Association, headquartered in …
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Grappling with the state budget, trying to ban texting while driving and more.
In less than a month, Virginia Del. Scott Surovell (D-44) will be working 12-14 hour days in the 2013 Virginia General Assembly session, and sleeping in the Richmond basement of a friend. Surovell, an attorney by day, will present 15 bills this session, and a number of constitutional and budget amendments. "The funnest part down there is when you're on the floor and it's time for you to get up and not just cast a vote, but to get up and speak and fight it out on behalf of your constituents. That's the part of the job I like the most," Surovell, who was elected in 2009, told Patch. "It's not easy to get 99 other people to stand with you on an issue, especially when 68 are from another political party. It's a real challenge, but the bigger …
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Del. Surovell's take on his second day in Charlotte, N.C.
Editor's note: Virginia Del. Scott Surovell, who represents the state's 44th District, is sending Patch updates of his experiences in Charlotte, N.C. at the Democratic National Convention. The following is from Surovell. Day #2 at the Democratic National Convention was an inspiring day. As usual, we started off the day with breakfast. Our speakers for the morning included Jessie Jackson, Cong. James Clyburn, former Gov. Tim Kaine and Donna Brazile. Jessie Jackson focused on voter ID laws and attempts to disenfranchise voters. Cong. Clyburn and Brazile focused on President Obama’s successes: Saving the American auto industry, ending "Don’t Ask Don’t Tell," finding Osama Bin Laden, reforming student loans and diverting savings to Pell Grants…
Monday, February 27, 2012
Things could get a little bumpy.
Although this winter hasn't been nearly as hard on area roadways as winters past, many residents are dodging potholes on secondary roads in their neighborhoods. Clearly, Northern Virginia's secondary roadways need ongoing maintenance, but Virginia Department of Transportation maintenance funds have run dry. Local lawmakers are frustrated over the problem, and some are wrestling with the ramifications of taking the responsibility from the state. "Some secondary roads in [Fairfax] County haven't gotten attention in 15 years, and we have a huge system of roadways," said Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerry Hyland (D). "When are those people in Richmond going to adequately fund transportation funding in Northern Virginia before it's …
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Proposals by area legislators include hike in gas tax, campaign sign clutter, giving localities right to ban smoking in parks.
Northern Virginia lawmakers will make their case for hiking gas taxes, banning smoking in parks, cutting the clutter of campaign signs and dozens of other proposals beginning at 12 Noon Wednesday, the official start of the 2012 legislative session of the General Assembly in Richmond. The three proposals are just a sampling of what lawmakers will consider during the 60-day session in the state capital. Lawmakers' first order of business may be to determine who is in charge in the Senate. Evenly divided by party, it's uncertain whether Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling can step in and serve as a tie-breaker on some votes. At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Gov. Bob McDonnell will deliver his State of the Commonwealth address. A budget shortfall …
37.53806
-77.43475
1000 Bank St, Richmond, VA
Virginia State Capitol
/articles/general-assembly-2012-area-lawmakers-head-to-richmond-for-60-day-legislative-session
/locations/6164671
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Plans call for widening highway to six lanes
Editor's Note: This is the first of a three-part series examining transportation, development and business along the Route 1 corridor. Part two focuses on upcoming mixed-use developments. Part three focuses on the growing area hotel industry. The Route 1 corridor in southeastern Fairfax County sees more than 60,000 vehicles per day—and it doesn't seem like any of those drivers are happy with the status quo on the 7.5-mile stretch of congested highway. Neither are the cyclists who commute through or live near the corridor, nor pedestrians who patronize the highway’s incoherent patchwork of shops and restaurants set amid sprawling, unseemly parking lots. New apartments, stores and hotels planned for Route 1, as well as expansion at Fort …
Friday, October 21, 2011
The fundraiser was held Friday morning at the Belle Haven Country Club.
Del. Scott Surovell has a reelection fight to keep Virginia's 44th District in Democratic hands, and today, he enlisted help from U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D) at a fundraiser breakfast at the Belle Haven Country Club. "Route 1 hasn't been touched in 40 years. My number one focus has been to try to bring some investment to that road," he said. "And, there is not a single school in my district that doesn't have trailers." With $59,597 on-hand, Surovell faces Republican John Barsa and his $100,934 war chest. "I've knocked on 2,500 doors since August. The other side has decided they want to pin me down," he said. "My opponent recently got a $75,000 gift from the Speaker of the House (Del. Bill Howell)." Sen. Warner spoke of seemingly constant …
38.78632
-77.06105
6023 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA
/articles/photos-del-scott-surovell-gets-help-from-sen-mark-warner
/locations/5645464
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 ›