Text Ban Starts Today

Starting today, you'd better keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road or it may cost you. The new law banning texting while driving and making the crime a primary offense carrying a $50 fine is in full effect.

Senate Bill 314 was and bans reading, writing or sending a text message while driving. The amendment making it a primary offense punishable by fine was actually introduce by then state representative and now Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro.

According to PennDOT, there were nearly 14,000 crashes in Pennsylvania in 2010 where distracted driving played a role. Sixty eight people died as a result.

"This is a serious problem and we are hoping that we can educate citizens on the dangers of texting while driving and prevent future accidents," said State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan. "Our troopers will attempt to use observations of the driver while the vehicle is in motion to determine if traffic stops are warranted. An example might be the motorist continues to manipulate the device over an extended distance with no apparent voice communication.

The law specifically makes it a primary offense to use any interactive wireless communication device (not just your smartphone, but personal digital assistants, tablets and laptops too) to send, read or write a text-based communication while the vehicle is in motion. The new law supersedes and preempts any local ordinances covering the action.

So what does that mean for you? It means you can be pulled over and given a ticket carrying a $50 fine if you're seen violating the law. It's a summary offense and police will not be confiscating phones or devices. There are no points associated with the violation and it won't be recorded on non-commercial drivers' records, though it will be recorded on commercial drivers' records as a non-sanction violation. The ban does not include using your GPS device or any system or device that is physically integrated into the vehicle. 

While many local authorities have expressed support for the bill, some have suggested the new law does not go far enough and should make all cell phone use in a moving vehicle a primary offense.