Law enforcement departments across the country seem to find it almost impossible to tell when a driver is text messaging instead of watching the road. At least, those law agencies that oppose bans on texting while driving. Here's help for those cops and deputies suffering from blindness to texting motorists: Ontario County (N.Y.) Sheriff Philip Povero told a safety committee on Monday that “officers that are trained in highway traffic enforcement can look at vehicles that are down the road and they can see certain body language and other signs that could indicate that a driver is … [Read more...]
Philly stake out: Cell driving ban near
March 25, 2009 by 1 Comment
The city of Philadelphia moved closer to a local ban on use of handheld phones on Wednesday as Councilman Bill Green's plan sailed through committee. First offense will run drivers $150 while subsequent fines will be $300. (Update: The City Council approved the ban on drivers using handheld cell phones April 16 and Mayor Michael Nutter has promised to sign it into law. The vote was unanimous.) Pennsylvania's legislature has several cell phone and texting bills to consider, but none appear to have any heat. A spokesman for the Philly cops said he hopes the local ordinance's passage would … [Read more...]
Virginia: Cell phone, texting laws, legislation
January 23, 2009 by 36 Comments
Distracted driving news: A hands-free law went into full effect in Virginia on Jan. 1, 2021. Virginia lawmakers approved the distracted driving bill with clear majorities and the governor has championed the new law. Fines are $125 for the first offense and then $250. There is a mandatory fine of $250 for violations in work zones. The DMV reports 1,907 convictions under the hands free law as of mid-summer 2021. State police report say they handed out more than 742 citations. Richmond's handheld cell phone went into full effect June 9, 2020. "It’s just not acceptable to use a cell phone … [Read more...]
NSC talks tough on cell phone bans
January 17, 2009 by Leave a Comment
The National Safety Council wants a total ban on cell phone use while driving, regardless of whether a hands-free accessory is in the loop. The 94-year-old safety group made national headlines in mid-January with its cell phone-ban initiative, which recommends laws that are more restrictive than almost all of those under consideration or adopted by the states. Almost all legislation allows for hands-free cell phone use. "It's time to take the cell phone away," NSC president Janet Froetscher said. The NSC plans to lobby the individual states as well as private businesses. It has sent letters … [Read more...]
Wyoming: Cell phone & texting laws, bills
January 5, 2009 by 2 Comments
Distracted driving news: State Rep. Hans Hunt's plan to imprison drivers who kill while distracted by texting has been soundly rejected by the House. The 2018 measure would have provided for aggravated-homicide prosecution if a driver is texting while causing a fatality. The mid-February vote was 19-40. The city of Powell's ban on handheld cell phone use while driving went into effect in January 2018. Six months into enforcement, no tickets had been written, although police said "a lot of warnings" were handed out. The Powell Tribune said 24 warnings had been recorded by midyear. The local … [Read more...]
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