Florida Senate passes bill to ban texting while driving

(FISUM File Photo)

Alyssa Elso/ Staff Writer

A new ban on texting and driving has students pleased to know that actions are being taken to prevent the over 200,000 accidents that occur in Florida as a result of texting and driving, a statistic from the National Safety Council.

“Passing this bill is great for Florida, I think we are one of a few states not to have a ban and so many accidents have been caused by texting and driving, the thought of getting a fine for texting and driving will prevent many people from doing it, including myself,” said Santiago Pava, a senior psychology major.

On Tuesday, the Senate unanimously passed a bill that will ban texting while driving, but will allow typing while stopped at a red light.

While steps are being taken to end this popular and dangerous trend, through this bill, texting and driving will only be recognized as a secondary offense, meaning police will first have to pull over drivers for an offense like speeding or distracted driving.

Drivers with a first violation for texting and driving will receive a $30 fine with additional court costs, while a second violation within five years could add three points to the driver’s license with an additional $60 fine.

Jeffrey Arias, junior biology major, is a bit skeptical of the success this ban will have in preventing texting and driving.

“I think it’s good that the bill passed. Texting and driving is really dangerous, but I’m not really sure this ban will be as effective as it could be,” said Arias. “Making it a secondary offense might make it difficult to actually catch people that have been texting and driving, as they would have also had to be doing something else wrong.”

Rep. Senator Nancy Detert said this is the fourth year she has sponsored a bill to ban texting, this is the first year it has been heard, and now Florida is only one of five states without a ban.

Liz Sarmiento, a freshman biology major, supports the passing of the bill and believes it will make driving safer.

“Texting and driving is not safe at all, I’ve tried doing it myself and it was way too distracting,” said Sarmiento. “So many people get into car accidents while they are texting, I’m sure this ban will help to prevent many accidents and deaths.”

According to Detert, texting and driving has become an “epidemic” that needs to stop, as texting and driving claims the lives of 11 teenagers across the country on a daily basis.

Additional reporting by The Associated Press.