Jan 2, 2009 11:50 am US/Pacific
California No Texting While Driving Law In Effect
SACRAMENTO (CBS 5 / KCBS / BCN) ―
-
-
This driver is distracted from the road while trying to send a text message.
CBS
California's new "no texting" law officially went into effect Thursday.
"It is against the law to read, send or compose a text message, and the reason why we have this law is because cell phone use is the number one association with traffic collisions," said California Highway Patrol Sgt. Trent Cross.
Drivers caught texting are now subject to a $20 fine for first-time infractions, and $50 thereafter, but local jurisdictions' penalties, assessments and court costs "tack on probably three to five times more than that," added CHP spokeswoman Jaime Coffee.
Coffee pointed out that the new ban on text communication on a mobile device while driving also affects drivers stopped at traffic lights.
"You are still operating the vehicle, therefore you should not be composing, reading or sending text messages," Coffee said. "The point is we want you to be able to react."
The ban, which has received wide attention via electronic highway signs around the Bay Area, was one of several new laws that went into effect on Jan. 1.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a total of 834 bills into law in 2008. New laws that took effect Jan. 1 involved issues ranging from maritime safety to rice production.
Other laws now in effect include the following:
— AB 1165: Persons convicted of driving under the influence may not operate a vehicle with any alcohol whatsoever in their bloodstream.
— SB 1720: It will be an infraction for anyone to forge, counterfeit or falsify a "Clean Air Sticker."
— SB 1419: In San Francisco, 19th and Van Ness avenues, also designated as state Highway 1 and 101 respectively, become double fine zones for serious moving violations.
(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bay City News contributed to this report.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments