Handheld cell phone driving prohibition kicks in Monday

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Using a handheld cell phone while driving becomes illegal in West Virginia Monday when the second provision of a year-old state law takes effect.

State lawmakers passed a bill in 2012 that made texting while driving illegal on July 1, 2012 and handheld cell phone use illegal a year later.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin will announce a statewide educational campaign during a news conference at Tamarack in Beckley Monday at 2 p.m. The governor will join state Transportation Secretary Paul Mattox, West Virginia State Police Superintendent Colonel Jay Smithers and others for the announcement.

Not wearing a seatbelt becomes a primary traffic offense in West Virginia July 9.