Pedestrians in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) will no longer be able to stand or walk along roadway medians after a new ordinance was recently passed. The focus of the ordinance is to improve safety conditions for both pedestrians and drivers, according to The Virginian-Pilot.
“Folks in the median are actually a safety hazard because it’s distracting to drivers and it can help cause accidents,” said Officer Margie Long.
Decreasing distractions for drivers has been in the headlines recently in Virginia (VA) with the passage of laws prohibiting texting while driving. A study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, which my colleague Rick Shapiro wrote extensively about, revealed a driver was six times more likely to be involved in a car accident if they texted while driving.
As an injury lawyer who’s represented clients hurt in car accidents, I applaud Virginia Beach for taking measures to help improve pedestrian and driver safety. Though, I have to admit I’m surprised the punishment associated with violating the new median ordinance is tougher than the state law prohibiting texting while driving.
Violating the ordinance is a Class II misdemeanor along with a fine of up to $1,500 dollars and up to six months in jail. The texting while driving law is only enforceable if a police officer stops you for another violation and a first-offender has to pay only a $20 dollar fine.
About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm is based in Virginia (VA), near the NE North Carolina (NC) border and handles car,truck,railroad, and medical negligence cases and more. Our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY.
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Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And in September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S. Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.
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