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Florida’s New Handheld Cellphone Ban Now In Effect
September 30, 2019
A new law went into effect Tuesday in Florida banning the use of handheld wireless phone while driving in a designated school crossing, school zone, or active work zone area. Work zone would include construction areas like Highway 29 or Nine Mile Road.
Officers will issue warnings until January 1. In 2020, violators could be charged with a moving violation, which includes a base $60 fine (not including court costs or other fees) and three points on their driver license.
Another new texting and driving law went into effect back on July 1, but only warnings will be issued until January 1. That bill changed current enforcement of the ban from a secondary offense to a primary offense – enabling law enforcement officers to stop a vehicle solely for texting while driving.
Comments
19 Responses to “Florida’s New Handheld Cellphone Ban Now In Effect”
Very dumb law. I get the no texting while driving, anywhere. But I am perfectly capable of talking on my phone while driving and not running over anyone. Losing our freedoms and liberties one useless law at a time, all in the guise of safety.
@ retired
Fs 322.01
(4) “Authorized emergency vehicle” means a vehicle that is equipped with extraordinary audible and visual warning devices, that is authorized by s. 316.2397 to display red, red and white, or blue lights, and that is on call to respond to emergencies. The term includes, but is not limited to, ambulances, law enforcement vehicles, fire trucks, and other rescue vehicles. The term does not include wreckers, utility trucks, or other vehicles that are used only incidentally for emergency purposes.
@Esc co leo
322.01 Definitions.—As used in this chapter:
(1) “Actual weight” means the weight of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle combination plus the weight of the load carried on it, as determined at a fixed scale operated by the state or as determined by use of a portable scale operated by a law enforcement officer.
You need to go back and read your book.
Even if that were true “official duties” not talking to mommy, girlfriend, wife, boyfriend, ETC
Sorry, missed a line in my below post.
The statute will NOT apply to law enforcement and emergency vehicles.
FS 316.305.3b1
1. Performing official duties as an operator of an authorized emergency vehicle as defined in s. 322.01, a law enforcement or fire service professional, or an emergency medical services professional.
Not personally for the people with phones in hand while driving..but other culprits are being sorely overlooked such as a burger and fries,doing make up and hair,distracting sounds from blaring music,in car dvd players,misbehaving children or pets,coffe and donuts,books on tape
….list could be alot longer..just goes to show that cellphones are being used as a targeted arena for blame to be placed…laws like this are strange in the fact that they are aimed at the lowest common example….it may be opinion but ive seen some wonderful driving skills from people who were otherwise distracted,and undistracted drivers who just from daydreaming or lack of sleep impair themselves to the same point as intoxication….when we make it against the law to only drive after no less then 8 hours of sleep..then i will feel that all these other laws are justified..
Does this count for ESCO whom I’ve seen countless times driving while messing with his/her phones or laptops..
Why should citizens only be held accountable?
Another law on the books…hope you all like more reasons for law enforcement to pull
You over. It’s a slippery slope..a few years ago it was just distracted driving and last
Three legislative terms more laws added to the books…It’s all fine and good until you
Get pulled over then it’s not such a good idea is it?
Everyone can pull off the road, which a few do pull to one side, and call or text. Start your Google maps, place phone to one side (or a mount) then listen. You don’t have to look or anything else until you reach your destination.
After everything I not only have witnessed, but actually had to call ESCO about, I’LL BELIEVE IT WHEN I SEE IT !
That statement should concern everyone. It’s been happening for years (with that law in effect) and nothing done. Again, I’ll believe it when I see it !
It will do nothing to curb the use of cellphones for texting or any other use in any of the “banned” locations or anywhere else. Fact is most people don’t care – they are going to do what they want to do behind the wheel.
No difference in this and uninsured drivers/suspended license drivers. It is distracted driving and has become an addiction and there is no cure or intervention that will be effective.
Hell law enforcement have their hands full with rounding up the scumbags that are committing crimes around the county. Cell phones are a necessary evil – the daily use/abuse with them sucks.
this won’t change a thing and most of us know it. 99% of the drivers out there who text and drive today will be doing the same thing next week/month/year. Why? Because it doesn’t matter to them. I’ve had LEO’s sitting next to me at night when a car drives by with no headlights on….no response. Music blaring out so loud you can hear it for the whole block……nothing. Fenders hanging off, one headlight working or nothing but high beams on…..still nothing. Until there’s an honest effort to chase folks down for safety violations that affect other drivers do you REALLY think this will makes a change? Heck, they can’t even keep habitual driving offenders off the road or people who have no insurance. Those laws are broken thousands of times a day. Cell phones, great idea but I expect no change. Meh…
The top paragraph states you can use ur phone while driving except in certain areas listed as zones, the bottom paragraph states you can not text while driving and can be pulled over by officers. My question is how can the police determine if you are texting or dialing a phone number unless they are sitting in the car with you, all they can see is you holding a phone tapping on it and now you can be pulled over accused of texting when you were actually dialing a phone number. This makes it to easy for the police to have a reason to pulled you over.
GOOD!
The number of accidents caused by cell phones has increased exponentially.
Officers SHOULD be able to pull people over and ticket them for cell phone use while driving and I hope they actively do so.
At least 2/3 of the people I pass on the road are staring at their phones while driving.
It’s absurd…whatever it is can wait.
Put it down people!
Whatever it is cannot possibly be more important than your life or the life of someone else!
ABOUT TIME! In my car or on my motorcycle I see people with their phone stuck to the side of their head. I always blow my horn to WAKE them up! Even the people that are holding their phones (talking) appear SHOCKED when they hear my horn and finely notice someone beside them. Most of the time these are the people obstructing traffic flow by going 5 – 10 mph slower than normal traffic. I say triple the fines -NO warning!
Correct me if I’m wrong, but does “texting” include using your phone for Google Maps directions? Many people do that. I actually prefer to use my Garman GPS for directions, but sometimes it’s in the other car. So I stop somewhere, get the address started in Google Maps, then go and glance at the phone screen for turning instructions. I think an officer might see someone using their phone for directions and think they are texting.
I have recently seen people in traffic near intersections taping away on their phones as they are rolling to a stop. But were they texting people or using Google Maps?
I can’t believe people would be so stupid to do anything other than keeping their eyes on the road they are traveling on.
This will not stop people from doing it. Those that do this have no regard for others and there own safety. I have been rear- ended twice; one pretty bad, because of idiots texting and driving. I was at a red light on both occasions fully stopped when rear-ended. Put the phones down & just drive!
It’s about damn time! Make sure that goes for the police too because I see just as many distractingly driving with cell phones on their ear.