Florida Drivers Beware
Drivers beware because if you frequent your phone while driving, you could suffer heavy consequences.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Friday that toughens Florida’s prohibition on texting while driving. Texting while driving one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving, and speaking at Sarasota high school Friday, DeSantis said it has caused thousands of accidents and hundreds of deaths in the state alone.
Starting July 1, police will be allowed to stop and ticket drivers for texting while they’re behind the wheel of a moving car, with limited exceptions. Drivers will still be able to use their phone while their car is stopped.
Drivers are also still allowed to use their phones to navigate, make phone calls and read emergency messages. The only exception is in school and work zones, where drivers are not allowed to be handling their phones except for emergencies.
This provision takes effect Oct. 1, but police can only stop and warn drivers about this part of the new law up until Jan. 1. Starting New Year’s Day, police will start issuing tickets in school and work zones for drivers who handle their phones whether they are texting or not.
Even though texting while driving has been illegal in Florida for years, police cannot stop drivers for it. As a result, the law has barely been enforced. But this new law will certainly change things, but more than that, Florida lawmakers and the governor hope that it will change the culture of driving in Florida.
By: Maytinee Kramer
