Comments on: Scott Signs Florida Texting While Driving Ban Into Law

By: Chelsey

Chelsey — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 13:59:40 +0000

My daughter was stopped at a redlight and checked a text message and was pulled over by a cop in Panama CIty Florida. She was gave a warning. She does not text while driving but like i said she was at a redlight that had just turned red and that she knows was a long red light. Don’t get me wrong I understand the bill and agree with it but my only thing I am really trying to point out is that she was pulled over just for that. No other offense.

By: chris1

chris1 — Thu, 30 May 2013 10:31:26 +0000

“A ticket, worth $30 plus court costs, can only be issued for what is known as a secondary offense”

Should be 10 times that.
Agree with Jay. Ban cell phones too. Need to use cell? PULL OVER !!!

By: Marshall

Marshall — Thu, 30 May 2013 03:28:16 +0000

Ya’ll just don’t seem to get what the law is all about. It may be a secondary offense by law…but will become a serious problem for the driver if they have an accident and it is shown they were texting at that time. Not only is it another charge…but it will also show you were negligent and open you to larger lawsuits. Negligence is an extra factor in a lawsuit…and if you are texting…you just handed them a judgement against you! So go ahead and text and hope you never cause an accident. If something is so important that you have to read and respond…then take a minute and pull yourself over, stop the car, and text away!!! I don’t know anything you can text that is worth your life…for the life of another innocent driver/passenger!!!!

By: Patriot

Patriot — Wed, 29 May 2013 20:33:20 +0000

The law, as written, cannot be enforced unless there is a crash. The driver would have to admit to texting to get a ticket because there are other (legal) excuses to be typing or reading the phone (GPS).
Without phone records (that are not available without a crash) there is virtually no way to prove it occurred.
This is a purely political “feel good” law.

By: CW

CW — Wed, 29 May 2013 16:54:27 +0000

Some people don’t even try to hide it. I’ve been behind people many times at night and I can see their phones glowing through their back window, this is while they’re weaving side to side and can’t maintain a constant speed. These people get on my nerves so bad I usually have to pass them.

By: nod

nod — Wed, 29 May 2013 16:08:47 +0000

let’s ban cellphones and that will stop death and crimes. as obama says, if only one child is saved it is worth it.

By: nod

nod — Wed, 29 May 2013 16:07:12 +0000

big deal, it cannot be inforced. as a secondary offense it has no teeth. the police can watch it happen and can do nothing about it. what a waste of time and money.

By: William

William — Wed, 29 May 2013 15:03:01 +0000

“My2Cents” — the law specifically exempts law enforcement, emergency responders, etc.

By: mick

mick — Wed, 29 May 2013 14:37:50 +0000

You know you look at the picture of all of these educated people and you wonder how many of them present really believe this law will yield any significant results… and how many of those standing there are guilty on a daily basis for their own texting habits while driving… I’ll bet you there are more guilty ones there that will not stop texting /reading texts as they stand there as window dressing for another attempt by lawmakers to do nothing but generate a little revenue for the state…making this a secondary offense just goes to show what little value they place on life… pathetic…

By: My2Cents

My2Cents — Wed, 29 May 2013 14:35:29 +0000

@ CW….I couldn’t agree more with you!

It isn’t going to do no good for a bill to be signed unless all LEO’s will take time to enforce it! The sad part of it also is…LEO’s text, use their computers, among doing other things in their car while driving and half of them can’t even pay attention to the road. So why bother is my thought and opinion on the process.

Not only are others a hazard to other drivers, but so are the LEO’s who are guilty of doing the same thing because they wear a badge. The extremely sad part about it is…there are some LEO’s that take PRIDE in their jobs to serve and protect, while others it’s just a paycheck and a power struggle.