Politics & Government
Tougher Talking and Texting-While-Driving Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk
Simiitian's bill would expand existing cell phone law for motorists.
A law that would toughen penalties for drivers caught texting or talking without a hands-free device on their cellphones has landed on Gov. Jerry Brown's desk.
The measure, SB 28, was authored by state Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), and grew out of what he thinks is the success of similar laws he wrote and that have taken effect, according to a statement.
“While the numbers show that compliance is good and that California’s hands-free law is working, we can do better and save even more lives,” said Simitian, following the bill’s passage.
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Simitian cites research by the AAA Automobile Club of Southern California and the California Office of Traffic Safety, which suggest that the state’s hands-free driving law maintains 60-70 percent compliance.
The aim of the bill is to boost that number by increasing fines for motorists who use cell phones illegally. Simitian joined CHP officers during a statewide crackdown in April.
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Here’s a breakdown of the proposed new law:
- Increase the base fines for violation of the hands-free cellphone and texting-while-driving laws from $20 to $50 for a first offense, and from $50 to $100 for subsequent offenses.
- Make a violation of the hands free cellphone law, the texting law, or the teen safety law a driver’s license “point” on a second or subsequent offense.
- Apply these distracted-driving laws to bicyclists at a lower total fine level of $20 for a first offense, and $50 for each subsequent offense.
- Use a portion of the increased fine revenue to establish and fund a cellphone-related distracted-driving education program in the Office of Traffic Safety.
- Allow the state to qualify for anticipated federal funding on cellphone-related distracted driving.
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