Florida's New Law Prohibits Texting While Driving

Florida became one of the last states to make texting while driving a primary traffic offense. The bill was signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. As a firm that serves injured car accident victims, Cohen Law Group: Orlando personal injury attorney stands behind this new law. Below you will find some important details about this new law and how it was formed.


How This New Law Will Affect Motorists


This new texting law became official in July 2019. However, law enforcement officers can’t begin issuing citations until January 2020. The bill makes texting while driving a primary traffic offence. This means that law enforcement officers can pull motorists over and issue them a citation for texting while driving. In the past, texting while driving was considered a secondary offense. This means that officers could only stop a driver if they were pulled over for another primary violation.


Banned From Using Handheld Devices In School And Construction Zones

Additionally, the new law bans the use of handheld wireless communication devices in school zones and construction zones, unless it is an emergency. With the new law in place, a first texting misdemeanour is subject to a $30 punishment. A driver that commits a second offense will be fined $60, plus court fees and any related fees. First offenders are eligible to complete a driver safety education course to avoid fines and license penalties. While texting and driving has been banned by law, a motorist is allowed to use the cellphone for limited purposes including making calls, GPS navigation and emergency messages.


Why Texting And Driving Is A Primary Offense


The state of Florida banned texting while driving many years ago. However, since it was considered a secondary offense, law enforcement officers could not pull over a driver unless they committed a primary offense while driving. This new law is a response to a much-needed solution to public safety problems. Texting while driving caused more than 45,000 car accidents just in Florida in 2016. More than 200 people were killed in 2016 due to driver distractions. In past years, the state of Florida was one of the few remaining states that approached this life-threatening situation as a secondary offense. In a state where motorists are consistently rated among the worst in the country, improving Florida’s driving safety culture is a worthy cause.


With this new law in place, road safety should improve considerably. However, we understand that accidents caused by careless drivers can still occur. If you are ever in a car accident and require legal assistance, Cohen Law Group is here to fight for your legal rights. By listening to your story, we can inform you of your legal rights, determine what compensation you are lawfully qualified to seek, and we will represent your rights with every legal means available by law. If you are involved in a personal injury accident, you should never take your legal rights lightly. Your rights are a privilege. We invite you to visit our website at https://itsaboutjustice.law/personal-injury-attorney/ for further details and information.