The texting while driving laws in Utah are now the strictest in the country. If the offender causes bodily harm while texting and driving, the misdemeanor can be upgraded to a third-degree felony. However, prosecutors are having trouble getting convictions due to the way the law was written. According to the law, the driver has to send a text exactly when an accident happens. If they are just looking at the screen, this is legal. The newest update to the law says drivers can only use a wireless device for making/receiving calls, and using GPS. No one has so far been prosecuted under a felony charge for violating a texting law, according to news reports.
Tag Archives: texting laws
Few Texting Citations Issued
Texting and driving motorists aren’t at very high risk of getting a ticket, according to recent statistics released by law enforcement. In Georgia, the texting ban went into effect July 1, 2010. Since then, less than 50 people have undergone convictions per month, totaling around 1,200, a tiny fraction of those convicted for using alcohol or drugs while driving. Only the number of convictions are counted by the Department of Driver Services. The reason there are so few convictions is because police are finding the ban difficult to enforce, since they have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the driver was texting. The penalty is $150, a risk many drivers do not mind taking. A texting driver is 23 times as likely to collide, according to news reports.
Florida Considers Texting Laws
Florida legislators are being pressured to join the country in banning texting and driving, after some private businesses are taking matters into their own hands for their employees. Some businesses are tracking and spying on their workers, making sure they do not text and drive, even in their own personal vehicles. The companies say this would stop if only the state would make a law banning the act, and the public is calling for legislatures to consider a new law to take care of it.
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Texting While Driving Law Criticized
A good guy pushing his car that had ran out of gas off the road gets hit by a car and nothing happens, why? A driver on the same road was texting and hit and killed someone and received nothing for the terrible act. The fact is because it happened in Virginia is where the problem started the state has no laws for texting and driving except a minor fine of $20. Although it was reckless driving the law does not include texting and therefore was thrown out. Virgina is looking into the law and what needs to be done to change it but for the family of that good guy its a little to late.
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Va. legislature criticized for poor texting while driving law
Officer Comments on Texting Laws
In response to the editorial question in the Sun-Sentinel , “ Is it OK to text while driving?,” Martin Jacobson, sergeant with Stuart Police Department, commented that creating legislation that cannot be enforced will not solve the problem. He argues that it would cost police officers more time in court testifying against texting drivers. He believes it would be difficult to prove the infraction was committed and that officers should focus instead on enforcing laws that are already in existence.
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Letter: Texting while driving deadly, but law would be hard for police to enforce
Statewide Texting While Driving Law Goes Into Effect
A statewide ban on texting and driving has gone into effect, making it illegal to drive and text while one is behind the wheel. Those caught texting while driving will be issued a fine, and the hopes are that this ban will make texting and driving less desirable, and roads safer as a result.
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State Texting Bans Expand
Nowadays everybody owns a cellphone and it is considered out of the norm to be without one. Since the rise of cellphone usage there has also been a rise of car accidents. Unlike making a phone call, texting requires the user to look away from the road therefore being distracted from possible danger. In the article, “Laws and Programs to Stop Texting and Driving,” posted and published online by Fox 10 TV, several laws and programs have been put in place to stop texting while driving. Recently in Alabama it is considered against the law to text while driving.
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Alabama Instigates Texting Ban
A statewide ban on texting while driving has gone into affect in Alabama. The law states that under no circumstances can a person operating a motor vehicle use his or her mobile device to text with. The law states fines for people caught committing this offense. Alabama becomes the 38th state to implement such an act.
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Idaho Texting and Driving Law Introduced
This article is about the law in Idaho states that prohibits drivers to text and drive. They use the term vaguely because that applies to any hand held device while driving, so updating your GPS while driving is also a violation of this law. The fine for a violation is $81.50 per offense, which is a small amount considering the other possibilities like injury or death. Using hand held devices while driving impaired the driver’s concentration and ties up their hand. A few people have already been cited with this offense since it’s passing which is a month a ago
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Texting While Driving Law Enforced in Alabama
After being banned in 38 states, Alabama will soon also enforce the the texting while driving law. The new law will start August 1st and will fine anyone sending a text behind the wheel. The fines will be $25 for the first offense, $50 for the second, and $75 for the third and after. Many drivers think that the law will help keep roads safe in Alabama.
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