Distracted driving law sponsor state Rep. Cindy Abrams.
A hands-free cell phone law with primary enforcement goes into effect in Ohio in early April.
Gov. Mike DeWine, a firm supporter of limiting cell phone use by all drivers, signed the measure into law Jan. 3. The legislation originated in the House, but was incorporated into a much-larger criminal justice act that emerged from the Senate. House sponsors were state Reps. Cindy Abrams and Brian Lampton.
Fines from $150 (first offense) to $500, plus points vs. the driver’s license. Serial offenders face the possibility of license loss. A six-month warning period begins April 3.
Ohio’s new distracted driving law has several notable loopholes, including permission to use cell phones at red lights or while holding the phone to your ear during a call, without looking at it.
Current law prohibits texting, but primary enforcement — meaning police can pull you over for the infraction — was limited to teen drivers. Numerous local ordinances were enacted over the years as the state failed to act on rampant cell phone use behind the wheel.
The new state law includes a reporting provision to guard against racial profiling.
“We begin a change to the culture” with the enactment, DeWine said at the distracted driving bill’s signing. “We begin to save lives.”
He called distracted driving “just as deadly as driving drunk.”
Fines increase with number of offenses:
- Up to $150 for the first offense, plus 2 points vs. the driver’s license.
- Up to $250 for the second offense, plus 3 points vs. the driver’s license.
- Up to $500 for the subsequent offenses, plus 4 points vs. the driver’s license and a possible 90-day suspension.
DeWine pushed for increased enforcement for distracted driving laws during his term. He lobbied for the hands-free HB 283 in his State of the State address in mid-March. “Too many Ohio lives — too many family members — are still being lost on our highways,” DeWine said.
Abrams had said of her legislation: “This is not a partisan issue; this affects everyone. The minute you pull out of your driveway, you’re affected by this.”
