The Florida House and Senate have passed a bill that would define texting
and driving as a primary offense in The Sunshine State.
The state law, which is awaiting approval by Governor Ron DeSantis, would
begin on July 1st of this year. An additional section of the bill, which would enforce the
use of hands-free systems in school zones and active work zones, and fine
offenders, would become effective on January 1, 2020.
As of right now, Florida state law considers texting and driving a secondary
offense, meaning drivers can only face penalties for doing so if they are also
committing another traffic violation. Citations for phone use can add up to three points on your license, and
six if you caused an accident, but drivers in Florida cannot currently
be legally reprimanded for texting and driving alone.
This will change once the law is passed. Police would be able to pull over
drivers for any instance of distracted driving they observe. In addition
to texting behind the wheel, Floridians could get a ticket for “distractions
like reading, writing, putting on makeup and even petting your dog,” reports
WFTS ABC Action News.
Cell phone use while driving is a primary offense in 43 other states, including
Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Mississippi, as well as Puerto
Rico and the District of Columbia. A similar law in Georgia contributed
to a 22% decrease in texting and driving, and a 3% decrease in car accident
fatalities.
The bill received a 108-7 approval vote in the House, with the support
of many Florida residents backing its passing. Governor DeSantis has yet
to approve the bill, but he has voiced his support for the measure in the past.
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