Texting while driving ticket in Virginia

A texting ticket in Virginia costs $176 on the state schedule and carries 3 points.

Add up my ticket All Virginia rules

What does the Virginia state schedule charge for a texting ticket?

How many points is it?

• Handheld phone use3 pts^[7]

Will a texting ticket raise your insurance in Virginia?

Probably, once it is on your record. Insurers rate a texting ticket as a moving violation. In Virginia one speeding ticket raised a full-coverage premium about 24% on average^[1], or about $1,460 over three years. A texting ticket usually lands in the same range.

Estimate based on the state's speeding average, not a quote.

How long do you have to respond to a texting ticket in Virginia?

1. Date on noticePay or respondset by the court^{[11][12][24][25]}
   Details

   Prepay or appear by the court date on your summons. If you miss it: The court can try you in your absence and convict you, adding a $35 failure-to-appear fee. In some cases a separate failure to appear charge or warrant is issued.

2. 10daysLast day to appealfrom conviction^[13][24][25]
   Details

   Appeal a general district court conviction to circuit court. If you miss it: After 10 days the right to a new trial is lost.

3. 60daysMotion to rehear a convictionfrom conviction^[25]
   Details

   Motion to rehear a conviction. If you miss it: Granting it is up to the judge, and it does not extend the 10-day appeal deadline.

4. 90daysPay fines and costs after a convictionfrom conviction^[25]
   Details

   Pay fines and costs after a conviction. If you miss it: Interest and extra fees are added after the due date unless you have a payment plan.

Can you keep a texting ticket off your Virginia record?

• Driver improvement clinic. It can help. Taken voluntarily, a clinic gives one of two benefits, not both: 5 safe driving points (which offset demerit points) or an insurance premium reduction.^{[3][5][6][14][12]} Who qualifies →

Every way to handle a Virginia ticket, from paying to contesting →

Texting tickets in other states →

Got a different ticket in Virginia?

• Speeding
• School zone
• Work zone
• Red light
• Stop sign
• No insurance
• Expired registration
• Seat belt
• School bus
• Failure to yield
• Parking

What else do people ask?

Sources