2012

In Alabama, the Governor has signed a law outlawing texting while behind the wheel.  Effective August 1, people will no longer be able to text or use any social media while driving. Fines will cost $25 for a first citation, $50 the second time, and later offenses run drivers $75.  Police have said that they… read more

A new California law allows the hands-free use of technology that allows a driver to text while driving, but it has some detractors. On July 15, the Governor of California signed a law allowing drivers to use hands-free technology to dictate, listen to, or send text messages while driving. The new law goes into effect… read more

We’ve seen the statewide New York texting ban’s effect at the statewide level, but it’s also working on a local level.  Since the ban on texting while driving was passed last year, just in Dutchess County alone, the number of people stopped and ticketed for texting while driving has gone up from 59 the previous… read more

Even with a zero tolerance policy on texting and driving in place in the Canadian city of Moncton, people continue to do engage in the practice, according to the police. That’s why that area’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police are getting more clever in their attempts to spot and ticket these distracted drivers. RCMP are now… read more

Tickets for texting while driving are being written in droves in New York a year after the Governor signed a bill in response to several fatalities involving teens texting while driving. The law in question allows police officers to pull over people suspected of texting while on the road. Before the new law, texting behind… read more

A proposed texting ban in Sioux Falls, South Dakota that has been previously reported on now has drivers speaking out. The City Council is currently considering a ban on texting while driving. Many, including the mayor, think the idea is a good one, and even those that are actually somewhat opposed to the idea don’t… read more

After killing two men while texting and driving, a Utah teenager is advocating for tough laws against the practice. Talking to a radio program called Here & Now, the individual explained that he used to engage in the behavior all the time behind the wheel, thinking there wasn’t a problem. He also told lawmakers about… read more

At the beginning of July, West Virginia implemented a law that allows officers to pull a vehicle over if they see the driver talking on their cell phone. The legislation provides for fines of $100 for first time offenders.  Lawmakers in states such as New Jersey, however, are rethinking their own punishments after a recent… read more

The Sioux Falls Public Services Committee has endorsed a new ban on texting while driving, and now the matter is headed to the City Council. Distractions under the potential law would include texting, emailing, tweeting, and Facebooking while driving. South Dakota turned down the law at the state level over the past two years, but… read more

On August 30th of 2012, Ohio will implement a statewide ban on text messaging while driving, However, the City of Parma Heights, which is just outside of Cleveland, has passed a city ordinance that moves the deadline for their town up to this month. Drivers who are charged with texting while driving in that city… read more

A new $85 fine will now be imposed on drivers in the state of Idaho who are found to be texting while driving. Senate bill 12-74 establishing the fine was passed in March with a vote of 29 to six. While other phone functions are not specifically mentioned in the bill, Lewiston police officers say… read more

In Idaho, the ban on texting while driving, along with laws pertaining to animal cruelty, licensing of massage therapists and sports safety education, went into effect July 1st. Earlier efforts to pass bills that ban texting on the road had failed. Strong influence on the bill’s passage was probably attributable to the family of a… read more