Wisconsin's governor signed into law a ban on texting while driving, making it the 25th state to outlaw the practice. Jim Doyle joined a growing line of governors who enacted distracted driving laws this legislative season. Right before him was Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, whose texting-ban signing ceremony was broadcast live on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Wisconsin's new distracted driving law (from Assembly Bill 496) provides for fines ranging from $20 to $400. The offense is targeted for primary enforcement, which means law office can stop violators for that reason alone. Enforcement … [Read more...]
Kentucky, Nebraska go texting-free
April 19, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Welcome Kentucky and Nebraska to the club: They're the 22nd and 23rd states to ban text messaging while driving. The House and Senate approved Kentucky's ban on texting while driving April 1. Two weeks later, the bill became law. No drama there: Gov. Steve Beshear banned text messaging for state employees in 2009. He previously called the texting plan (HB 415) "a common-sense bill to protect all Kentucky drivers." Kentucky's new distracted driving rules also outlaw the use of personal communications devices by motorists under the age of 18 with learner’s permits. Rep. Tom Riner, sponsor … [Read more...]
Wash. state gets primary enforcement
March 8, 2010 by 1 Comment
One of 2010's fiercest legislative battles over distracted driving raged in Washington -- a state that already has banned handheld cell phone use and texting by drivers. Gov. Chris Gregoire signed the distracted driving legislation on March 26, clearing the way for enforcement to begin June 10. “To those who have said to me that it’s no different than having a cup of coffee, the coffee doesn’t talk back to me," Gregoire said at the signing. "Coffee doesn’t have anything to say to me. A cell phone does,” she said. (This story has been updated twice.) On March 11, the civil war ended as the … [Read more...]
N.Y. governor: Toughen texting law
February 24, 2010 by Leave a Comment
New York Gov. David Paterson wants to "take the handcuffs off" when it comes to texting and driving. He's proposed legislation in the Senate that would upgrade enforcement of the state's 2008 texting law from "secondary" to "primary." That means law officers can stop and cite text-messaging drivers for that reason alone. "This bill will take the handcuffs off our law enforcement officers and make our highways safer by allowing officers to observe a violation and immediately issue a summons," Paterson said in a statement on SB 222 Wednesday. The state reports that about 200 tickets have been … [Read more...]
Simitian defends California cell phone ban
February 19, 2010 by 1 Comment
California state Sen. Joe Simitian has heard enough about cell phone bans not working. Simitian came out in defense of his ban on drivers' use of handheld cell phones, armed with California Highway Patrol data. "A lot of folks are sitting down to dinner with their families every day, who might otherwise not have made it,” he said. CHP numbers show a 20 percent reduction in fatalities and collisions in the six months following implementation of that California cell phone ban. The bill was signed into law in 2006 and went into effect on July. 1, 2008. Simitian said 2009 was equally … [Read more...]
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