Maine became the 33rd state to ban texting while driving as Gov. Paul LePage signed off on the safety legislation June 3. Maine's texting and driving law goes into effect in September 2011, 90 days after the legislature adjourns. Fines will be no less than $100, although higher penalties were not specified. The distracted driving law calls for primary enforcement, meaning police can stop and cite motorists for the offense without further cause. Previously, police could not stop drivers solely because they were observed text messaging while behind the wheel. Final approval of the bill came … [Read more...]

California's monthlong crackdown on distracted drivers -- called the nation's largest campaign against distracted driving -- wrapped with more than 53,000 citations written. The sweep coincided with the first Distracted Driving Awareness Month (April). It involved 103 California Highway Patrol offices and more than 280 local and regional law enforcement agencies. At the same time, the Office of Traffic Safety reported a 7 percent decline in fatal crashes, although there is no clear link to the distracted driving campaign. California has had rolling sweeps for several years, almost all of … [Read more...]

Indiana has become the 32nd state to ban text messaging while driving. The law becomes effective July 1, 2011, with fines up to $500. Gov. Mitch Daniels signed the texting act into law on May 11. Specifically, the Indiana distracted driving law prohibits drivers from typing a text message, transmitting the message or reading an electronic mail message. Texting via hands-free or voice-operated technology is allowed. The law calls for primary enforcement, meaning police can stop and cite violators for that reason alone. The Indiana texting law has an unusual exemption: communications systems … [Read more...]

A county judge in Pennsylvania has thrown out Allentown's local law against using handheld cell phones while driving. The cases of two drivers ticketed for cell phone use were brought to Judge James Anthony on appeal. "The (state) legislature can certainly pass a statute specifically covering the use of cell phones while driving, and any other matters concerning distracted driving, but has yet to do so," Anthony wrote in his opinion. "Until such time, (the city's cell phone ban) is pre-empted by state law, and is therefore invalid." (Update of June 8: Allentown decided not to contest the … [Read more...]

Most New York cell phone offenders are in for a nasty surprise come Feb. 16: With that distracted driving ticket comes two points against the driver's license. The rule change brings handheld cell phone violations in line with penalties under the state's 2009 text messaging law, which provides for 2 points against an offender's license. "It is only logical to assign two points to both of these forms of distracted driving," the New York DMV said in its proposed rule-making filing. "It will send a message that DMV considers cell phone violations a serious offense, in the same way DMV … [Read more...]