Committee Gives Support to Texting Ban as a Secondary Offense

A bill to ban texting while driving received favorable but not unanimous support Thursday morning from the Senate Committee on Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities.

Texting itself wouldnt be enough of an offense for a motorist to be pulled over, but a ticket would be issued as a secondary offense if law enforcement sees the driver texting or reading texts while committing another offense, such as speeding or reckless driving.

Under the bill,a motorist could still check texts while the car is idling.

You can do that at a stop light, you can pull over and do that, you have plenty of opportunities to read your emails while youre sitting in a boring spot, Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, said -- the sponsor of SB 416.

A second violation would double the fine and add three points to a drivers license. The point total would double if the motorist was involved in a crash while texting or reading texts.

This is Deterts third attempt to get an anti-texting and driving bill through the Senate. Efforts to ban texting and using hand-held devices as a primary offense have struggled to gain support among many legislators opposed to government regulating private behavior.

An amendment was added to the bill that would add three points to an individuals drivers license if they are charged with texting while driving through a school zone.

The bill also would not prohibit a driver from speaking on a cell phone.

If someone is talking on their cell phone theyre still looking out their windshield and theyre staying in their lane, Detert said. Whereas, if youre texting, youre going to sway into my lane. Were trained as defensive drivers to look at the front window and check our rear view mirror. Now you better check front, back and either side of you.

The fine would be $30 for a first offense.

Florida is one of 15 states that dont ban motorists from texting.