A new bill would make texting and driving a primary offense in the state of Florida
House Bill 33, presented to the Florida legislature Wednesday morning, would significantly increase the penalties for those who drive and text.
There were over 45,000 distracted driving crashes in Florida in 2015, accounting for 39,000 injuries and 200 fatalities, according to bill filer and state Rep. Jackie Toledo (R-Tampa).
The bill would change the current enforcement of the ban from secondary to primary with the following penalties:
- First violation remains non-moving violation
- Carries $30 fine plus court costs for total of $108
- Second or subsequent violations within five years becomes a moving violation
- $158 total fine and three points added to license
- Violation that causes crash adds six points to license
- Violation committed in school safety zone would add two additional points to license
Officers who make traffic stops for texting and driving would still require a warrant to access a driver's phone.