THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
“Little good is accomplished without controversy, and no civic evil is ever defeated without publicity.”
da
Wednesday June 27, 2012
Volume 125, Issue 154
www.THEDAONLINE.com
Texting ban to be enforced July 1 by Lacey Palmer staff writer
As of July 1, texting while driving will become a primary offense in the state of West Virginia. This means individuals caught texting behind the wheel can be pulled over and cited for it. Before July 1, texting while driving was a secondary offense, meaning individuals could not get cited for the act
unless they were pulled over for some other offense first. Now, the first offense is automatically a $100 fine. This fine will increase by $100 for each subsequent violation. Three points will also be assessed against driver’s licenses on the third and subsequent violations. Governor Earl R. Tomblin signed this new bill into law April 3. The law also confirms that talking on the phone is a
secondary offense and will become a primary offense July 1, 2013. Before the ban went into effect, the only drivers banned from texting while driving in West Virginia were novice drivers with a Level 1 or Level 2 status. In October 2009, Obama signed a piece of legislation that made texting while driving illegal for federal employees, which set an example for
many states to follow. The passing of this new law made West Virginia the 36th state to ban texting while driving. Some say West Virginia is late compared to other states who have passed similar bans months, even years, ago. “The law in New Jersey bans cell phones all together, so I am used to this law and I rarely hear of any texting and driving incidents,” said Alex Russomano, WVU student and
New Jersey resident. “I’m glad West Virginia is taking control to fix such a huge problem that this country is facing.” This bill requires the Division of Highways to post signs on interstates and major highways to alert motorists of the ban. Some people believe the ban is factually supported. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports roughly 80 percent of all crashes and 65
percent of near crashes involve distracted driving. “I think that the ban is a good idea because texting while driving can be a big distraction and can possibly cause a fatal accident,” said Brooke Peake, WVU student and N.C. resident. “North Carolina has a ban, so I’m used to it. I stay off my phone while I’m driving and most of my friends do, too.”
see texting on PAGE 2
eyes on the road
WVU Police headquarters moves to new location on HSC campus
Mel Moraes/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
A driver demonstrates the act of texting and driving, which will be a primary offense in the state of West Virginia beginning July 1. Violators of the new law will be subject to a $100 fine, increasing by $100 each additional time they violate the law.
Do you agree with West Virginia’s ban on texting while driving? “Banning texting while driving - good. However talking while driving - ehh.... The law is a bit over reaching the problem.” @RyanCampione
kristen basham/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
The new WVU Police headquarters is located near the Mountaineer Station Parking Garage and the Health Sciences Center.
by zak voreh
news correspondent
The West Virginia University Campus Police have found a new, technologically advanced home. The Campus Police have set up a new headquarters at 992 Elmer Prince Drive, near Ruby Memorial Hospital. The headquarters is equipped with stateof-the-art security and communications center as well as improved facilities for the officers. The new facility is the first building in Morgantown specifically designed to suit the needs of the University police force, according to Campus Police Captain Rick Jackson. “The entire first floor of the new facility was reconstructed to expand the capabilities of our communication center,” he said. “We have far more capabilities as far as video, alarm monitoring and communication throughout the county.” The new dispatch room features eight large TV screens, and the room is completely secured by bulletproof glass and key card locks. The building also has additional space for evidence lockers, administrative offices, a library of law reference books and a new gym for officers. The University police have called many places home throughout the years. Campus Police Captain Jim Enoch has seen the police force move seven times in his 35-year career, starting in a house beside the Facilities Management Building and ending up at the new headquarters.
He was grateful to have a building dedicated to the University police force. “I see a lot of advantages. It’s more personalized; we don’t share with anyone; There is more professionalism within the department and we are awful thankful for the people who made that happen,” he said. “It’s really nice to have a place to call home.” The first full operational day in the new building was June 14. Captain Jackson also believes there are advantages in having an official University Police building accessible to students. “This is the first time that we have a home of our own that the public can recognize – that we’re not sharing with other departments, or other outside entities – so the public can come straight to our building and they are dealing with only us,” he said. Even though Jackson thought the move would be difficult, the police force took every precaution to maintain records. “We opened half of our communication center and got it up and running in the new facility and then moved the other half,” he said. The written records were transferred as well. “We brought them over ourselves to maintain the integrity and get it back up and running as we were before,” he said. For more information, visit http://police.wvu.edu. For emergencies call (304)-2933136 or 911. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
“I think the WV ban on texting while driving is great. It’s just as dangerous as drunk driving; keep your mind on the road!” @eLizFinley “‘I’m not sure. Yes, it can do some good. But it also is kind of impossible to monitor.” @emilycatelyn11
Results of online poll
by terri parlett staff writer
On July 3, the Morgantown City Council will be casting the final vote on legislation that will allow natural gas drilling in industrial zones and research sites within city limits. Drilling would be limited to industrial zones and for research purposes, land owned by West Virginia University. However, these zones must meet certain safety requirements to be approved for drilling. On June 5, the Council passed the first reading of several zoning ordinances that would regulate where companies would be permitted to drill. In addition, the Council repealed a drilling ban that prevented extraction
within one mile of city limits. City Manager Terrence Moore said Morgantown is able to use zoning to offer direction to closed-management practices. “While there is still prohibition in the city of Morgantown with regards to extractive industry activities, which had been contemplated last year, this is simply the application of zoning so as to achieve regulations so such activity can be permitted,” he said. The ordinance also includes standards regarding noise, fencing, site remediation and road maintenance. “We’re talking about zoning within the specific corporate limits of Morgantown, where this is permitted, where this can happen and thus it also provides as-
EXPLOSIONS
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INSIDE
Explosions In the Sky performed to a packed house at 123. A&E PAGE 8
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@JumpinJesuits
City Council to vote on drilling within city limits
85° / 62°
SUNNY
“Not sure how it can be enforced w/out random stops and invasion of privacy. why not just police reckless driving in general?”
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ON THE INSIDE The West Virginia football team’s move to the Big 12 Conference has given it more motivation in its summer workouts. SPORTS PAGE 12
surances to everyone else throughout the community that the zoning legally would not allow drilling in one’s backyard, for example, or in somebody’s commercial district or anything like that,” Moore said. Sites approved for drilling must be 625 feet from residential buildings, schools, parks and other public buildings. Drills must also be 100 feet from the floodplain, 10,000 feet from public water sources and 1,000 feet from the floodplain of the Monongahela river south or upstream of the Morgantown Lock and Dam. When these limitations are taken into account, there are only a few places eligible. Moore said there are areas around Morgantown Municipal Airport as well as a few
areas owned by West Virginia University that would allow for drilling with the new ordinances. There will be a public hearing July 3 regarding the ordinances and the final decision could come then. The public is encouraged to attend and comment. City Council meetings are held in City Council Chambers, located in City Hall at 389 Spruce Street, and begin at 7 p.m. These zoning ordinances do not ban drilling, as in the past. They simply regulate it, according to Moore. “There are very specific requirements that must be met before building permits can be issued, to allow extractive industry activity,” Moore said. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK Former WVU guard Da’Sean Butler is trying to make it to the NBA after the injury he suffered two years ago in the Final Four. SPORTS PAGE 9