July 1st - No More Texting while Driving!!!

I am so excited for Utah and this ban coming July 1st! I hope that this law will sweep the nation. I am currently writing a research paper on this subject and this is something I feel strongly about. Texting while driving must have consequences. Sadly enough we need more laws passed in order to limit cell phone use and other distractions in order to reduce the number of distracted driving fatalities.

"The first text messaging law of the legislative season comes from Utah, whose governor signed HB 290 on March 25. The Utah ban on texting while driving goes into effect July 1.

Utah and Virginia will be the eighth and ninth states with laws that restrict text messaging while driving. California joined the club Jan. 1.

Under the legislation signed by Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., text messaging infractions begin as class C misdemeanors, but become class B misdemeanors if the driver has been convicted of texting while driving in the past three years. The class B infraction also applies if the texting is linked to a serious injury.

(FYI Class B misdemeanors are punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. The punishment for Class C misdemeanors is up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $750.)

Numerous other state bills regarding texting and driving remain alive for 2009. Almost all limits on cell phone use by drivers are dead or dying.

Legislatures this year gave serious consideration to text messaging bans for drivers, but little to handheld cell phone sanctions."