As the majority of Michigan drivers already know, driving and texting is now illegal in the state. The ban officially took place on the 1st of July, and drivers now face a $100 dollar fine for their first offense. The second offense sees steeper penalties, and drivers will be subject to a $200 dollar fine. Michigan is joining a growing list of states that have bans on the books, and it was officially the 24th state to adopt legislation regarding texting and driving. There are now 30 states that have bans in place around the country.
There are a number of issues that are raised by this new legislation, and the major thing is how police and judges determine whether a driver was actually texting while operating their vehicle. There are a host of other uses for cell phones, and none of these are illegal yet. Some of the legitimate uses that are not covered in the ban include using a phone to find information or using the GPS that is included on most handsets.
I agree that the ban is a good one and do not feel that texting and driving are a good mix. I often see drivers texting while they are behind the wheel. Some of them are pretty dangerous, and they can be seen weaving through traffic haphazardly. However, it seems that the ban is actually pretty hard to enforce due to the different uses that cell phones have. I do not design cell phones, but most have GPS technology. Maybe, the texting feature could be disabled when vehicles are driving faster than five miles per hour. I am not sure, but it seems that there are better ways than the current ban.
The ban has been in place for quite a few months now, but I have not seen any real statistics that would enable me to evaluate its efficacy. If you have seen something or wish to discuss this issue, please feel free to do so.
If you want to talk with an experienced attorney about this or any other law, call The Clark Law Office at 517.347.9600. We can also be reached via e-mail at info@theclarklawoffice.com. If you call us, you can rely on the professional advice of an attorney who has more than 30 years of experience. We will not refer you to a third party, and you can call today for your free consultation.
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