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Bill Would Ban Texting, IM, Internet While Driving
February 10, 2010
If you read or write a text message while driving in Florida, it could cost you in the future.
Under a bill introduced Tuesday by two state legislators, texting while driving would mean a $30 fine. State Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, and Janet Long, D-Seminole, have introduced bills to introduce the civil fine. If caught texting behind the wheel, no point would assessed against a driver’s license.
Dockery admitted that she used to read her messages while driving, but no longer. “Distracted driving is an epidemic that’s sweeping through our state and country, destroying lives and families,” she said.
The ban would not just apply to texting, but also sending or reading email, instant messages, pages and using the Internet. The ban would not apply to law enforcement, military and emergency personnel sending messages in the line of duty.
If stopped on the side of the road or parked, texting from a vehicle would be allowed. Talking on a cell phone while driving would not be banned.
Comments
26 Responses to “Bill Would Ban Texting, IM, Internet While Driving”
I am not in favor of texting or any other kind of distracted driving.
However, this kind of nanny-state legislation has failed everywhere it has been enacted. A $30. fine is laughable.
You can try to reduce TWD by putting some real teeth in the penalties for causing an accident or loss of life while using a cell phone. Ticketing for reckless driving, careless driving, 4 or more points on a license, insurance surcharges, mandatory jail time might help some, but I am pessimistic about success even so.
The penalties for drunk driving can be severe, but idiots still do it.
I am a middle aged person, not young, and not old….I text….BUT, I don’t text while driving…The few times i have, something has almost happened. How many people have to be killed before SOMETHING is done? I do not want it to be me and my kids that you kill….If they would make an example out of a few people, bet not as many people would do it…I shudder at the thought of the 2 times I have looked up and saw other vehicles in my path…It taught me a lesson, I just call them…at least I can have my eyes on the road!!
Valentine’s day will be here in less than an hour….Don’t tex it, show the ones you love that you love them….you all have a great V day!
Not reading all of the responses here but law enforcement and everybody else it would exclude is not right. I watched a marked patrol car here where I live almost cause 2 accidents trying to do something on his computer and “line dancing” because he wasn’t paying attention. I rely on my text messages and internet to get my calls just like they do but I pull over to take care of it.
Libby…I would think that texing while in a parking lot would be a pretty good way to tex..Now not being aware of your surroundings that’s another story…Keep a can of pepper spray with you all the times..or wasp and hornet spray..spray for the eyes, wasp spray shots 18-25 feet..
It is not just kids doing this. I see alot of older people and my sister is in her 60s and she and her family are texers. I watch women of all ages in parking lots talking or texing on phones not paying attention to their surroundings they are just asking for trouble.
smilin bob..
you ever herd the statement ” Famous last words ” lets hope that you don’t have a famous last tex…For your sake and the people around you…wise up.
smilin bob…
That is not a good idea, from your statement here that tells me that no matter what the laws are with anything, if you feel like doing it anyway then you will just do it…
honestly im an 18 year old kid but even if they banned textin while drivin I would still do it
I am in support of fines and even the police being able to TAKE A CELL PHONE away from a driver who is using it while driving. Texting or talking.
Gee, how many wrecks do we have to have? The biggest disrepect and abuse I’ve seen is from teenagers. Boys and Girls. Followed close by working moms.
Speed and just poor judgement while they are talking or texting is awful.!
PULL OVER! IF YOU SEE A PERSON PASS YOU OR DRIVING BESIDE YOU WITH THEIR HAND HELD AS IF THEY ARE TALKING ON THE PHONE —- IT MEANS GET OFF YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL.
Debbie, you got my vote on that no cell phone under 21.
I think it would be a good idea to ban any kind of cell phone use at all for kids under, say, 21…. They can’t legally drink and drive but they can text and talk which is just a dangerous. These kids need to get the experience of safe driving and you simply can’t do it if you are distracted. period.
Angi,
The military bases already have regulations in place concerning use of cell phones and driving. It is against regulation to use cell phones for any purpose while driving on base, unless it is a completely hands-free like the type that are incorporated into the vehicles controls. Bluetooth type units are not included as hands-free devices. The punishment for first offense, loss of on-base driving priviledges for six months for civilian personnel and Non-Judicial Punishment (NJP) for Disobeying a Lawful Order for military personnel. BTW, I almost never see anyone using cell phones while driving on-base anymore, and that’s a good thing.
Texting and driving is just as dangerous as DUI, therefore I feel the punishments should be similiar. Once people realize that 1st offense texting and driving results in fines up to $1000, community service, loss of Driver’s License, increased insurance rates, etc. maybe folks will realize it is not worth it. Of course like imac said below, there will always be a few who deem themselves above the law and will continue texting and driving, however I believe the majority would not think the risk would be worth the reward if stiffer penalties are enforced.
On a side bar, the $30 fine turns into a $116 fine after the city/county tack their respective fees and and taxes on. Still not enough IMO!
I hit a truck because someone waved him across in front of me and I was not on the phone. The first thing the Lawyer asked where you on the phone and no I wasn’t. Do you think the insurance will pay if you cripple or kill someone? Call and ask them. They need to make it a manslaughter law if a person is on the phone texing or talking and kills someone . Young people you are only hurting yourself because you will never live it down if you take a life and may not ever sleep a goodnight sleep agein. Pull off and use the phone.
They can ban it al they want, people will still do it, especially younger kids…
bill, big b little ill …
Sorry to hear that you got ran off the road, I am not one that usually uses my cell phone while driving though, unless someone calls me; and then I do make sure to be safe and pay attention to the roads still…Keeping both hands on the wheel.
I think that ANY use of a hand held cell phone should be banned. I can’t even guess how many times I have seen drivers who are using their cell phone while driving roll right through a four-way intersection without even slowing down and seemingly not even noticing that they had violated an intersection….people on their cell phone having temper tantrums with whoever is foolish enough to not hang up on them. Can’t you just see the law enforcement officer with his/her adrenaline pumping at full throttle, which narrows your focus, driving while texting?? They have radios in their cars and that’s what they should be using, and their on board computers should have speech recognition software anyway.
Angi..
If someone else is in the car that can make that call, let them. If not, may be better to pull over and make that call. That way you can visit those loved ones in the hospital rather than be a patient in the hospital. That is providing someone trying to use a cell phone don’t rear end you on the side of the road. LOL… but just be careful, while you are driving down the road using the phone, I can’t tell you how many times I have seen people who talk on the cell, and use their hands to express themselves, no hands on the wheel…I got ran off the road in pensacola by one of those….Be safe.
p.s. nice phone x)
I hate when my brother txts while driving.., i try not to txt him at all because i dnt know when he is driving.., but i hope ALL teens AND adults would stop txting nd talking on the phone while driving.., because you just dnt put ur life in danger.., u put others at risk…
XOXOXO
Soulja
@ BamaMom…
I was just giving a quick example hun, people also may need to call home and check on their children too etc… I just feel that talking on a cell phone isn’t as bad as texting, IM’ing, checking e-mails etc… Doing those things takes your eyes off the road for longer periods of time. Alot of people have the hands free cell phone calling method, so I find that this would actually be no different than listening to the radio and singing along or talking with someone that happened to be in the vehicle with you…
to Angie-
You think people who are on the way to the hospital calling family members are LESS distracted than someone who is calling home to check on their children, perhaps??
I think this is great idea, but it should also go for law enforcement, military and emergency personnel sending messages in the line of duty as well; because they are human beings just like the rest of the drivers on the roads and could also cause an accident too. I say if anyone needs to do any of this then pull to the side of the road. As far as talking on the cell phone, that should not be banned, because people could be on their way to the hospital or something and need to call family members, but as far as all the rest goes while driving; I do feel that it should be banned, because it does cause distractions while driving…
Texing and driving, while were at it, lets get those people reading a book while driving, or the news paper, sorting through CDs. Don’t forget those who think it’s ok to have various forms of sex while driving down the road. To many distraction, on dangerous highways.
I think ALL cell phone use should be banned by drivers.
Even simple cell phone conversation distracts most drivers
and causes them to drive with undue caution or unnecessary
slowness in traffic !