TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida's texting-while-driving ban would be strengthened under a proposal filed Tuesday by Sen. Thad Altman, R-Rockledge, for the 2016 legislative session.
The measure (SB 328) would make texting while driving a "primary" offense -- meaning police could pull over motorists who violate the ban.
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Under current law, it is considered a "secondary" offense. That means motorists can only be cited for texting while driving if they are stopped for other reasons.
Past attempts to make texting while driving a primary offense have failed. Altman's measure goes further than a bill (HB 25) filed in August by Rep. Richard Stark, D-Weston, that would toughen penalties for motorists who text while driving in school zones or at school crossings.
Stark's bill calls for doubling fines for motorists who violate the texting-while-driving ban in the designated school areas.