I just came across an article on msnbc.com which was entitled “Texting & Driving Fines Start Thursday in Pa.” This grabbed my attention and I had to read the article immediately because I was unsure that a law like this was being issued in Pennsylvania. Here is what the article had to say:
Starting Thursday, texting while driving will cost you in Pennsylvania. The “Anti-Texting Law” takes effect Thursday at 12:01 a.m. The new law allows police to charge anyone caught text messaging while operating a vehicle with a primary offense and a $50 fine. Authorities say that the law will make it clear just how dangerous texting and driving can be. About 14,000 of the Keystone State’s 2010 crashes were attributed to distracted driving. And 68 people died in those wrecks.
“Your most important job when behind the wheel is to focus only on driving,” PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch said in a statement. “Most people would never close their eyes for five seconds while driving, but that’s how long you take your eyes of the road, or even longer, every time you send or read a text message.”
Pennsylvania will be the 10th state to enact such a law, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Police hope the law helps prevent future accidents associated with texting. “This is a serious problem and we are hoping that we can educate citizens on the dangers of texting while driving and prevent future accidents,” said State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan.
Police say they hope for voluntary compliance from motorists. But that doesn’t mean everyone will stop texting behind the wheel. “Our troopers will attempt to use observations of the driver while the vehicle is in motion to determine if traffic stops are warranted. An example might be the motorist continues to manipulate the device over an extended distance with no apparent voice communication.” For specifics on the law visit PennDOT’s website.
Related articles
- Texting while driving ban set to go into effect this week (pennlive.com)
- Car Insurance Co. Says Many Teens Neglect Dangers of Texting and Driving (news.onlineautoinsurance.com)
- Statewide ban on texting while driving takes effect this week (goerie.com)
My West Chester, PA 
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