Distracted driving news: A new law establishes primary enforcement for text messaging and driving in Virginia, allowing police to stop and cite motorists for that offense alone. The law takes effect July 1, 2013. Fines still will be significantly increased, from the current $20 to $125 (first offense) and from the current $50 to $250 for subsequent offenses. There also will be a $250 minimum fine for reckless drivers who are texting at the time of the offense. The twin bills that toughened enforcement of the Virginia texting & driving law were approved during the 2013 legislative session by the governor and General Assembly. The legislation's increased fines were too high for Gov. … [Read more...]
Wyoming: Cell phone & texting laws, bills
January 5, 2009 by 2 Comments
Distracted driving update: State Sen. Floyd Esquibel saw his texting & driving ban become law in 2010, but his 2013 plan to expand the distracted driving law to include handheld cell phones received a quick rejection. Esquibel, D-Cheyenne, saw his SF 93 go down in defeat in the Senate Transportation Committee on Jan. 21, 2013. He vowed to return with the legislation next session, as he has in past years. (It would have allowed use of cell phones with hands-free attachments.) The Senate panel delayed a vote on a proposed ban on handheld cell phone use by school bus drivers. It includes fines of $750 -- 10 times the existing text messaging penalty -- as well as a possible month in jail. … [Read more...]
Cell phone safety: Bet you didn’t know …
January 1, 2009 by 4 Comments
Cell phone safety would seem largely a matter of common sense. Pay attention, watch the road and you’ll arrive safely. But researchers who have been studying cell phone-related accidents since the 1990s say there are some surprising ways in which wireless phones endanger drivers, passengers and pedestrians. For example, the simple act of talking on a cell phone actually decreases the quality of visual information received and processed by the brain. Talk more and you see less! State legislators are increasingly mandating hands-free cell phone use for drivers. Hands-free devices such as Bluetooth headphones can prevent accidents and save lives, but motorists need to be aware of how these … [Read more...]
Nevada: Cell phone laws, legislation
December 22, 2008 by 50 Comments
Cell, texting news: The Nevada Highway Patrol issued about 12,000 electronic distracted driving tickets in 2012. Jan. 1 was the first anniversary of full enforcement of the bans on texting or talking on a cell phone while driving. While the Highway Patrol notes that the distracted driving law is "being ignored" by many drivers, relatively few repeat violations were reported. There were 30 second-time offenders and 25 third-timers in 2012, the Highway Patrol reported Jan. 2. May saw the most ticketing. Fines are $50 (first offense), then $100 (second) and then $250 (subsequent violations). Court costs typically double the cost to the driver. Repeat offenders are subject to points … [Read more...]
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