Maryland and Virginia are both on their way to beefing up laws governing the use of cell phones by motorists, and may soon join D.C. in creating an entire region where using a phone while driving is reason enough for a police officer to pull you over.

WJLA reports that Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell will sign legislation making the use of a phone while driving a primary offense. At the same time, legislators in Maryland are moving towards a similar goal; this week the Senate passed a bill doing as much.

In Virginia, fines for first-time offenders would be $125, and second violation would get you a $250 fine. In Maryland, a first offense would cost a driver $75, a second would set them back $100 and every offense thereafter would cost $175. Once the laws go into effect, a police officer would only have to see a driver using a phone to justify an arrest. Currently, police need another offense—like running a red light—to justify a stop.

Under D.C. law, any use of a phone by a driver can be punished by a $100 fine. D.C. police have been netting some $1 million in fines a year from distracted drivers. If the cops don’t catch you, Ray LaHood just might.