Texting & Driving In Florida on the Verge of Being Extinct
Texting and driving is a very serious driving distraction. In fact, texting and driving is outlawed in 38 states, but not in Florida. However, yesterday the Florida House went through the legal motions and finally attempted to put the ban on texting and driving in Florida.
The Florida House has passed its version of a statewide ban on texting while driving, but the proposal’s fate is uncertain.
The House passed the bill (SB 52) on a 110-6 vote Wednesday.
It includes an amendment that allows police to use drivers’ mobile phone records against them only when texting causes a crash resulting in death or personal injury.
The measure returns to the Senate to consider the House change, which came as a surprise to the bill’s sponsor.
The bill makes texting while driving a secondary offense. That means police have to first stop drivers for another offense. A first violation is a $30 fine plus court costs. A second or subsequent violation within five years adds three points to the driver’s license and is a $60 fine.
(via Insurance Journal)