Easing sexting penalties for youth, extending Metro discussed in Stafford

STAFFORD COUNTY — About 20 people came to Kate Waller Barrett Elementary School in North Stafford on Saturday to hear from two elected officials to talk about the bills they have in the Virginia General Assembly.

The town hall meeting was held by State Senator Scott Surovell, of the 36th District, whose district reaches from the Wilson Bridge in Alexandria south along Route 1 into North Stafford, Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy who represents North Stafford and Woodbridge.

Both Democrats came to the elementary school to field questions from constituents and to talk about their legislation.

Surovell put in 61 bills and 21 budget amendments this legislative session. That’s a lot for a legislator.

Many of them have to do with transportation. One, in particular, is a hands-free cell phone bill. Surovell says the state’s current no texting while driving law is unenforceable. His bill would change that.

“The problem is that our texting statue is totally unenforceable. Right now, most law enforcement can’t tell what you’re doing if you have your phone in your hand. All they can see is that you have your phone in your hand for purposes of communication, which is what the statute is, or they can’t tell if you’re playing Angry Birds or chasing Pokemon, which is totally legal. It shouldn’t be,” said Surovell. 

Surovell doesn’t hold out hope for passage of his hands-free cell phone bill. He said the Courts Committee at the General Assembly became involved with this bill and he expects to die within that committee. He told attendees at his town hall that you most likely will still be able to use your cell phone to play Pokemon while driving for the foreseeable future.

Among other bills Surovell talked about was finding $7 million for Widewater State Park in Stafford County, to continue building that park and eventually opening it to the public.

He also wants to make sexting among children and teens a misdemeanor. It’s currently a felony charge.

Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy is a freshman this General Assembly session, Of her 20 bills, many of them also have to do with transportation. One of them is a feasibility study to look at extending Metro further south from Alexandria and Springfield into Prince William and potentially Stafford County.

“We have to get more creative about our transportation solutions, so that’s why we’re going to get a study. Now, I know this isn’t going to be done in the next two, five, or maybe even 10 years, but you have to crawl before you walk. You have to have that foundation laid, you have to have the feasibility studies done, the environmental impact studies done so we can get this project on the road,” said Foy. 

Foy is also looking for more money to expand bus transportation. She says residents should be able to travel across county lines between Prince William and Stafford County. She says that would provide more options for residents who are looking for different ways, other than driving, to get around.

Surovell is working on a series of bills to address the coal ash issue at Possum Point just outside Dumfries. We’re told his bill provides incentives for Dominion to remove the coal ash for recycling. Instead of leaving it there as the utility has said it wants to do — a process called “cap in place.”