RICHMOND DIGEST

Drivers Who Text Are Targeted

Texting and driving in Virginia could result in a traffic ticket after the Senate voted 33 to 6 yesterday to bar motorists from writing and reading or e-mailing with handheld devices.

The legislation would not apply to someone who is stopped or parked, and police would only be allowed to ticket violators who were pulled over for something else. The bill exempts Global Positioning System devices that send and receive data.

Violators would face a $20 fine on the first offense and $50 for subsequent infractions. The bill returns to the House for minor changes.

-- Fredrick Kunkle

House Backs Gun Proposal

Virginia residents who have a concealed weapons permit will be allowed to take their guns into bars under a bill that was approved yesterday by the House of Delegates.

The House voted 65 to 32 to allow permit holders to carry concealed weapons into bars as long as they are not consuming alcohol.

The Senate also voted this month to end the ban on guns in bars, but its version of the bill also requires the permit holder to notify the manager of the establishment when they are armed.

House and Senate negotiators will try to work out a compromise.

If an agreement is reached, the legislation will go to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), who vetoed a similar proposal last year.