The year’s midpoint brings new distracted driving laws to three states: Idaho, Indiana and South Dakota.
The laws took effect July 1, after a unique legislative season in which many state capitals were emptied out because of the coronavirus, stalling many efforts to update and upgrade electronic distracted driving laws.
In Idaho, drivers have six months to get used to the state’s new hands-free law. Warnings are being handed out until Jan. 1, 2021. The new law prohibits almost all drivers from using handheld portable communications devices such as smartphones. When tickets start flowing, fines will range from $75 to $300 with a possible license suspension for serial offenders.
“We’re starting with what we prefer, education,” said Col. Kedrick Wills, the director of Idaho State Police. He cited the “life or death consequences” of cell phone use while driving. The distracted driving bill sponsor, Sen. Chuck Winder, pointed to “needless carnage on our roads and our highways.”
One in five crashes in Idaho are linked to distracted driving. The largely rural state has exempted certain farm and ranch activities from the new handheld cell phone law.
In Indiana, the new hands-free law brings fines up to $500. No demerit points will be assessed before July 1, 2021, however, meaning license suspensions and insurance premium hikes are on hold for a year. The delay was explained as necessary for awareness to spread.
Gov. Eric Holcomb had called for the hands-free law while announcing his agenda for the 2020 legislative session Dec. 10 and repeated the message in the State of the State address in mid-January. He said distracting driving was “unacceptable and avoidable.”
In South Dakota, the new law bars many uses of portable electronic devices while driving, but allows for some phone-related activity and limited GPS use. It classifies offenses as a Class 2 misdemeanors, which come with fines as high as $500 and possible jail time. The law comes with primary enforcement, an upgrade from the previous texting & driving law.
Prohibited activities include general Internet use, gaming, and cell phone video and photography. Drivers are allowed to enter phone numbers and conduct phone calls.
Gov. Kristi Noem did not take a position on the 2020 bill, but signed it as time ran out on the legislative season.
A Castlewood couple who lost a son in a crash linked to distracted driving was credited with inspiring long-resistant South Dakota lawmakers to OK the measure. More than 800 crashes were blamed on distracted driving in the state during 2019.
Again. Empty gestures.