Starting in January, Florida drivers will be more likely to get a ticket for texting while driving or using a phone in a school or work zone.
The state’s new texting while driving law technically went into effect July 1, but law enforcement officials have used the first six months to focus on education.
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“We don’t want anyone to take their eyes off the road. We want everyone to be, just, focused on driving. That’s the number one thing. Just put it down,” said Lt. Derrick Rahming with the Florida Highway Patrol.
FHP alone has issued 897 warnings YTD, but as of Jan. 1, 2020, enforcement becomes the priority.
“Enforcing the law with citations,” Rahming said. “There will be an approach where we want to make sure that everyone has had their time in the six months.”
In extreme cases, law enforcement officials haven’t hesitated to write a ticket. Statewide, police have issued 1,151 tickets for texting behind the wheel YTD.
Since Oct. 1, 30 tickets have been issued for violations to the hands-free portion of the law, which applies only in active school and work zones.
“We just want to make sure that if you have a device in your hand, you’re going to get stopped, you’re going to get a citation,” said Rahming.
A ticket for texting while driving in Florida will cost $30. If you’re caught violating the hands-free law, you will be ticketed $60 and have three points added to your license.
Safe driving advocates, like Demetrius Branca, haven’t given up hope for stronger laws to be passed in the future. Branca thinks the new law has the potential to make some impact.
“There are of course benefits to this law. It’s an education period for people, and that’s what we need. We need education, we need legislation and we need enforcement, and this is kind of a little bit of all three,” said Branca.
The ultimate goal of safe driving advocates is to see Florida go totally hands-free, which is already the law in 21 other states.