"I want West Virginians to remain free from distracted drivers," Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin told lawmakers back in January. They listened. The governor's advocacy proved to be the key to breaking the state's long deadlock over distracted driving, with the Legislature approving his plan to outlaw text messaging and the use of handheld cell phones for those operating motor vehicles. (Update: Tombin signed the West Virginia distracted driving legislation into law on April 3. This article originally posted March 10, 2012.) As time expired on the legislative session late March 10, the House and … [Read more...]
The wrath of LaHood: a good honking
February 28, 2012 by 5 Comments
DOT chief Ray LaHood must be able to summon the hounds of hell when he encounters cell phoning drivers breaking the law in Washington, D.C., right? Nah. "What I've been doing is kind of honking at somebody if I see him on a cellphone," LaHood told WROP radio the other day. He calls drivers who use cell phones or text "my biggest source of irritation." LaHood told the radio station it was his way of "taking personal responsibility" in the war against electronic distracted driving. Never mind that vehicle horns should be reserved for alerting others to roadway danger, not telling off fellow … [Read more...]
Court: Cell phone law covers stops
November 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment
California's law against use of handheld cell phones while driving applies when vehicles are stopped at traffic lights, an appeals court has ruled. While the Legislature didn't specifically address use of handheld electronics at stop lights, the First District Court of Appeal ruled Nov. 14 that the statute writers' intent was to include vehicles on public roadways that are paused momentarily to obey traffic laws. The judges cited "significant and numerous public safety hazards that likely would result" if they agreed with the defendant's claim that the distracted driving laws did not apply … [Read more...]
Mississippi: Cell phone laws, legislation
December 19, 2008 by 11 Comments
Cell phone/texting news: State Rep. Jill Ford resurrected her handheld cell phone measure for the 2022 session. HB 429 would outlaw use of cell phones for calling, texting or using the Internet unless used in hands-free mode. The offense would be a misdemeanor and carry a $500 fine. The plan was shot down last year in the Judiciary Committee. Another attempt perished in the pandemic-shortened session of 2020. Ford said she was "hopeful to get some momentum from law enforcement." Mississippi's statewide distracted driving law continues to allow use of cell phones by drivers, meaning the … [Read more...]
New Mexico: Cell phone laws, legislation
December 11, 2008 by 11 Comments
New Mexico had the most distracted drivers in the nation for the third straight year, according to federal traffic numbers. There were 195 deaths linked to distracted driving in the latest reporting year, 2021, the NHTSA reported in April 2023. New Mexico's men accounted for most of the fatalities linked to distraction. Almost half of the state's roadway fatalities were blamed on distraction. New Mexico also had the most distracted drivers in the nation during the 2-year period of 2019-2020, federal traffic safety numbers show. The state's texting & driving law outlaws typing on … [Read more...]
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