Florida is one of only six states lacking a statewide ban on the practice of texting while driving, despite a sweep of legislation to this effect all over the nation. This, despite findings that nearly 90% of drivers support legal sanctions against texting, typing or otherwise using the text functions of phones while driving. The DMV found that last year, texting while driving contributed to 180 car crashes.
Several attempts to pass texting while driving bans in the Florida legislature, however all have failed. Recently, Senators Nancy Detert (Republican – Venice) announced that she will introduce yet another bill making texting while driving a nonmoving violation, punishable by a $30 fine. Senator Detert has made two attempts at previous bans, however both failed to make it through the Florida House.
Frustrated by Florida lawmaker’s failure to enact appropriate and timely legislation, many private companies and public agencies have begun enacting texting while driving bans for their employees. Employers such as Walt Disney World and Darden Restaurants already have such plans in place, while the Seminole County and Lake County school districts are considering enacting such internal bans.
It appears that a texting ban is immanent, the question is when and what will be the severity of the infraction. Traffic infractions of any kind can be a serious hassle for any driver, not to mention a significant cost. If you have been cited for a traffic infraction, the traffic ticket attorneys at Finebloom & Haenel have valuable experience to contribute to your case. Call today for a free consultation: 1-800-FIGHT-IT.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.