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Local police agencies ready to crack down on texting and driving

New law hailed as a good first step toward preventing accidents

By Don Coble Managing Editor
Posted 5/29/19

CLAY COUNTY – Local law enforcement agencies applauded the recent passage of a bill that makes texting and driving a primary offense, and they promised to start pulling people over as soon as the …

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Local police agencies ready to crack down on texting and driving

New law hailed as a good first step toward preventing accidents


Posted

CLAY COUNTY – Local law enforcement agencies applauded the recent passage of a bill that makes texting and driving a primary offense, and they promised to start pulling people over as soon as the law goes into effect on July 1.

But whether they write a lot of tickets isn’t clear.

The bill, HB 107, was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last week. It makes texting and driving a primary traffic offense, and it creates a hands-free area within school zones and construction sites where workers are present.

Until July 1, drivers who text and drive can only be ticketed if they’re pulled over for another reason.

“We consider it a good idea,” said Green Cove Springs Police Lt. John Guzman. “It is a problem. It’s almost as bad as drunk-driving. You see people swerve and running red lights while they’re texting, just like you do when they’re drinking.”

However, there are some loopholes that will make it difficult to enforce, Orange Park Police Chief Gary Goble said. Officers must be able to confirm whether a text was written or received, he said, and that requires permission of the driver. Under the new law, drivers aren’t required to turn over their phones.

Law enforcement agencies also are required to report the race and ethnicity of each suspect to make sure the law isn’t used to profile drivers, Goble said. That concern is why the Florida Senate voted the bill down a year ago.

“This is not simple,” Goble said.

But it won’t stop the police from making stops.

“If nothing else, we can stop people and educate them about the dangers of texting and driving,” Goble said. “Maybe we can get their attention.”

Clay County Sheriff deputy Chris Padgett said the new law was a good first step toward ridding the highway of dangerous drivers.

“We are pleased to see progress being made in these matters and look forward to the future of this,” he said. “Laws to enforce distractions – such as texting while driving – will hopefully deter people from using devices that take their concentration and focus off the roadways, creating a safer travelling environment for all.”

Guzman said Green Cove Springs likely will hand out warnings until drivers are up to speed with the changes.

“We will enforce it.”

According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were more than 50,000 accidents in 2016 and again in 2017 involving distracted drivers. It’s estimated that one out of every four crashes are caused by texting and driving.