CHARLESTON — Students without a cell phone in this modern era are few and far between, and some are using the wireless devices to pick on fellow classmates.

A new law approved by acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin could lessen such cyberbullying.

At least that is the intent of the House bill sponsored by Delegate Ricky Moye, D-Raleigh, a veteran school bus driver.

“I’m glad we got it through and kept it simple by adding electronic communications as a means of bullying,” Moye said Tuesday.

Covering any means of electronics to communicate harassing messages, the law would deal with students who send threats or disparaging messages or calls on school buses and at bus stops.

What’s more, schools conceivably could deal with such communications made during a weekend or over a summer break, if they spill over into the classroom when school is back in session, Moye explained.

“Half the problems in schools originate outside the schools anyway,” the delegate said.

“This isn’t infringing on anybody’s privacy or their rights to do what they want on their time. But if it causes a problem during the school, they’ve got to deal with it.”

Bullying by use of cell phones, either via voice or text messaging, has become “more and more prevalent” among students, Moye said.

“That’s the means of communication for the younger generation,” he said.

“That’s what they use. That’s their choice.”

 Moye said he understands from his job experience that cell phones dominate the education scene in the 21st century.

“When Independence High School lets out, every kid coming out of that door has got a cell phone up to his ear or is holding it in his hand texting,” he said.

“It’s amazing. I bet you won’t find 10 kids out of the whole school that walk out of there that don’t have a cell phone in their hands. It seems to be more important than food these days.”

School administrators deal with bullies in varying methods, depending on the severity and frequency of such acts, Moye said.

“For the most part, if a student is not in a habitual problem, he’s going to get talked to, warned and may get detention,” he said.

“They don’t jump up and throw the student out of school the first time something happens.”

Moye said he hopes the law will spread the message among students that using cell phones to intimidate their classmates is inappropriate behavior.

“Just because you’re not standing there in their face, looking at them, it’s still intimidating them, and it’s not OK to do that,” Moye said.

“Hopefully, this just brings awareness to that issue.”

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com