chief's Corner
New Law Changes on Texting and Driving
How many times have you been driving down the road and noticed someone in the car next to you punching buttons like crazy on their phone? Texting and driving is dangerous behavior. In 2018, some 8,618 traffic accidents and 34 traffic deaths in Orange and Seminole Counties were attributed to distracted drivers (according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Prior to July 1, 2019, officers could not enforce texting while driving unless they had first stopped the driver for another primary traffic violation, such as speeding. Effective Monday, July 1, texting while driving became a primary offense, meaning law enforcement officers are able to make traffic stops for texting and driving as the primary reason for the stop. Statewide enforcement efforts currently underway are being referred to as the Put It Down: Focus on Driving Campaign (putting the phone down and focusing on driving).
Under the new law, a person may not operate a motor vehicle while manually typing or entering multiple letters, numbers, symbols, or other characters into a wireless communications device or while sending or reading data on such a device for the purpose of non-voice interpersonal communication, including, but not limited to, communication methods known as texting, e-mailing, and instant messaging. As used in this section, the term “wireless communications device” means any handheld device used or capable of being used in a handheld manner, which is designed or intended to receive or transmit text or character-based messages, access or store data, or connect to the Internet or any communications service as defined in s. 812.15 and that allows text communications. For the purposes of this paragraph, a motor vehicle that is stationary is not being operated and is not subject to the prohibition in this paragraph.
There are exceptions to the law that include: using a device or system for navigation purposes; reporting an emergency or criminal or suspicious activity to law enforcement authorities; and conducting wireless interpersonal communication that does not require manual entry of multiple letters, numbers, or symbols, except to activate, deactivate, or initiate a feature or function. Law enforcement, fire and medical personal operating an emergency vehicle are exempt from the law. Other exceptions exist. When using navigational devices, I encourage drivers to type their destination into the device prior to their trip and then to utilize verbal commands and other hands-free features. We hope that you and your family will obey the new law, as the life it saves may be yours or someone you love. Please share this new law change with your teen drivers to ensure they avoid being a victim of distracted driving and do not receive a citation for texting and driving. I recommend you review Florida Statute 316.305 and 316.306 to familiarize yourself to the law.
There are three types of distracted driving: visual/taking your eyes off the road; manual/taking your hands off the wheel; and cognitive/thinking about anything other than driving. Texting requires all three types of distraction, making it one of the most dangerous of distracted driving behaviors. Remember to Put It Down (the phone) and Focus on Driving so you can arrive alive.
Dale Coleman, Chief of Police