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...]
International distracted driving roundup
August 22, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Distracted driving news from around the globe. (Does not include the EU member states, Britain, Australia or Canada.) View the European distracted driving news page, the British distracted driving news page and the Australia & New Zealand cell phone laws roundup. In England, a taxi driver was sentenced to six years in prison for causing a death by dangerous driving. Mohamed Farooq Saleemi hit a roadway worker near Southampton in early 2022, distracted by the text message he was sending. Police called it "a senseless death caused by a distracted driver." The sentence was handed down in … [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...]
Pennsylvania: Cell phone laws, legislation
December 19, 2008 by 37 Comments
Pennsylvania cell phone/texting news: The state's hands-free cell phone law goes into full effect in early June 2025. It was championed by state Sen. Rosemary Brown and signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro last June 5. "I have met too many people with injuries they’ll live with for the rest of their lives because they were hit by a distracted driver," Shapiro said. The new law calls for a $50 fine and primary enforcement. There was a 12-month (written) warning period. Pennsylvania's texting law went into effect in March 2012. Police continue to complain it is difficult to enforce because … [Read more...]
Kansas: Cell phone laws, legislation
November 21, 2008 by 10 Comments
Cell phone, texting news: Lawmakers are making another run at prohibiting the use of handheld cell phones in the state's school and construction zones. The 2026 plan comes once again with a $60 fine and would take full effect in the summer of 2027. Kansas has the third-highest rate of fatalities due to distracted driving, but only bars texting & driving. The state's ban on text messaging while driving took effect Jan. 1, 2011. There are no statewide limits on cell phone use by adult drivers. No cell phone legislation succeeded in any of the sessions between 2010 and 2025. The state has one … [Read more...]
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