State mulls toughening up texting ban to receive fed dollars
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SEATTLE -- State law prohibits texting while driving, but law enforcement officials say many people are not taking the law seriously.
The state is now mulling a financial incentive from the feds to toughen up the law.
Drivers who are caught texting while driving are issued a $124 ticket. The amount is the same for first, second and third violations.
But would repeat offenders stop if the price rose with each ticket? The federal government thinks so, and it could be worth millions of dollars from Uncle Sam.
Washington state already has one of the toughest texting-while-driving laws in the country. The federal government likes that, and may reward the state with a $300,000 grant to incorporate an educational campaign that spreads awareness of the dangers of texting or talking on the phone while behind the wheel.
In order to qualify for the grant, however, the feds say the state's law must be even tougher and include increasing fines for repeat offenders and for teens with intermediate driver's licenses using a cellphone while driving for any reason.
"I have to say it's a new idea to me, because nobody has ever talked about it," said Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, chairperson of the House Transportation Committee.
"I think people need to take it seriously, and I don't see them doing it now," Clibborn said. "It is something that hits them in the pocketbook so maybe they would take it seriously."
A tougher law could mean the cost of a texting-while-driving ticket could rise from $124 to $248 for the second violation, and to $372 for the third.
"I think its worth taking a look at it," Clibborn said.
The state would have to enact the tougher texting laws by next fall to get the extra federal money for 2014.
The state is now mulling a financial incentive from the feds to toughen up the law.
Drivers who are caught texting while driving are issued a $124 ticket. The amount is the same for first, second and third violations.
But would repeat offenders stop if the price rose with each ticket? The federal government thinks so, and it could be worth millions of dollars from Uncle Sam.
Washington state already has one of the toughest texting-while-driving laws in the country. The federal government likes that, and may reward the state with a $300,000 grant to incorporate an educational campaign that spreads awareness of the dangers of texting or talking on the phone while behind the wheel.
In order to qualify for the grant, however, the feds say the state's law must be even tougher and include increasing fines for repeat offenders and for teens with intermediate driver's licenses using a cellphone while driving for any reason.
"I have to say it's a new idea to me, because nobody has ever talked about it," said Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, chairperson of the House Transportation Committee.
"I think people need to take it seriously, and I don't see them doing it now," Clibborn said. "It is something that hits them in the pocketbook so maybe they would take it seriously."
A tougher law could mean the cost of a texting-while-driving ticket could rise from $124 to $248 for the second violation, and to $372 for the third.
"I think its worth taking a look at it," Clibborn said.
The state would have to enact the tougher texting laws by next fall to get the extra federal money for 2014.
Law enforcement can't seem to bother enforcing the laws that are already now on the books prohibiting:
Illegal over-sized "tonka-toy" tires,
Illegally over-tinted windows,
Illegally over-bright/mis-aimed headlights, and
Illegally over-height "lifted" vehicles
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... and all of these blatant illegal running gear violations are easily seen from a distance.Â
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People who drive in vehicles with prohibited gear such as that just don't care about how their actions negatively affect drivers around them, they certainly are not going to give a rat's ssa if they're putting themselves and others at risk by idiotically texting while attempting to control a moving vehicle.
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How about ENFORCING THE LAWS already prohibiting all the dangerous illegal violations listed above, along with the texting stupidity? It's just as dangerous to be blinded by some saahat's retina burning blue-death beams that they somehow can't aim correctly.
Why not show this picture for the story? https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=500754149956949&set=a.102781753087526.6473.100000671060506&type=1&theaterÂ
Why is this something that needs "mulling over"? Â According to a survey I found online, over 1/3 of drivers (37%) have sent or received text messages while driving, and 18% said they do it regularly. Â How many more accidents and deaths do we have to hear about until this law is enforced? Â Â
I receive e-mails and texts all the time while driving. Your little âstatisticâ is meaningless. If 33% of the drivers receive text messages, but only 10 % reply while driving, that means that only just over 3% actually text while driving. My hand free translates text to word.  I donât even have to look at it. Further more, I can elect to reply by just saying âreplyâ and then talking to my hands-free device. âFigures lie, and liars figure. Without a much more definitive breakdown, the figures you mentioned are just air. Â
The law appears toothless or unenforced now. Â Day after day, night after night (when it's easier to see them), we pass people texting behind the wheel, often at freeway speeds in heavy traffic. Â Boggles the mind. Â What is so important? Â People are addicted to these devices. Â They need rehab, LOL.
Why does the state need a federal grant to help them decide if bigger tickets are the answer? Â Hand some out and see if trends go down. Â Sheesh.
Funny how getting federal money is always an incentive to enforce the laws you already have. I can't believe they hadn't thought about raising the fine for additional offenses...what a new idea. As far as "education", people already know it's against the law and a few tv commercials aren't going to change that because the people doing it #1 know it's against the law #2 aren't afraid of getting caught. However, there is "federal dollars" involved so it should get more attention at least til the check comes in.
Really how hard is to buy a blue tooth or an app for texting. Cheaper then a ticket. Can't believe tis is an issue.
 @Common Sense -- Really, how hard is it to just drive your car. Blue tooth are not, you are still distracted while on the phone. How about we just put the damn phone down and drive. How about that?
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@Bianca @Common Sense
You are distracted talking with the person(s) riding with you. The law needs to prohibit passengers while driving.Â
How on earth will the higher fine stop people. The State can't even stop people now.Â
Make the fine hurt the first time. $1000 for the first offense, $1500 for the second offense, and anyone that didn't learn after the second...revoke their license.
 @Paul Yup!!! That will stop people from texting period. I would support this idea since, only a financial impact this high will prevent people from texting while driving.
 @NickM1979 Why not just put people to death for using cell phones? You know, since we're in the business of making outlandish consequences for trivial offenses.
 @NickM1979 People get mangled in car accidents all the time. All the legislation in the world won't stop car accidents. Just like imposing an outlandish fine for texting won't stop people.Â
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Not to mention, at $1000 or more, who is actually going to pay that fine? Hell, if I get a ticket that's over $100, it goes straight to my lawyers desk and gets dismissed because it isn't worth my insurance going up. Its also worth noting I've had 1 ticket in the past 6 years.Â
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 @Dredd57  @NickM1979 The offense remains only trivial as long as someone does not get hurt. Car is for driving, not texting on the go. More accidents happen when people are texting and not paying attention.
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Would you feel the same if someone rear-ended you and you were badly injured or worse killed? All the compensation in the world can't fix your body.
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Texting is a serious issue and people will keep doing it unless we attach a steep financial penalty to deter them.
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Need to text while driving? Pull over, don't put others at risk just because you lack common driving sense!
 @Paul Texting while driving should result in a $1000 fine? So a DUI should be punishable how? Death?
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Do everyone here a favor: the next time you have what you presume to be a good idea, instead of sharing it, just punch yourself in the face instead.
 @Dredd57  @Paul If drunks only killed themselves and not innocents, I'd be OK with that.Â
P.S. The fine for littering the first time is $1000 (when enforced). I'd say we've got our priorities all messed up if clean streets are worth more than a life. Just saying.
 @Bianca  The cost of a first time DUI is significantly more than the fine for littering. Not to mention you spend a night or two in jail depending on your BAC and lose your license for up to 1 year.
 @Dredd57  @Paul Actually Dredd, I think Paul might be on to something. People think our laws, our police, and our fines are jokes, so they do what they want, and people DIE because of it. Make it hurt the FIRST time.....BAD, and it just might be the deterrent needed. I'm a motorcycle rider, and this past summer was almost hit TWICE by idiots playing with their phones. I say hell yea. Make the penalty stiff, and make it HURT. And as far as the D.U.I Death Penalty? If a drunk kills someone on the road, it should be automatic.
 @Wolfen  @Paul A DUI does hurt the first time...if its actually convicted as a DUI. Most first instances are reduced to negligence in court. A real DUI carries atleast a night or two in jail, and up to $5000 in fines and court costs not to mention losing your DL for 6-12 months. I know plenty of people who have had them, and none of them would tell you its a joke.
 @Dredd57 I think a DUI should be an automatic 5 year revocation of a license. It's a bit extreme but unfortunately the penalties for things like this are light enough that people keep offending.
 @Jason7784 How do you know? Have you been to jail? Most people I know who have DUI's- that was their only time in jail. That combined with the fines is a big deterrent for them.
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Besides, if they revoked my drivers license for 5 years, I'd drive anyway. Whats the worst that could happen? I get arrested for a night? They suspend it for another 5 years? At some point, the consequences are too harsh, and people stop playing by the rules because it isn't worth it.
 @Dredd57 In all honesty, a jail sentence isn't going to change anything. At least not for most people. Besides, throwing someone in jail costs taxpayers money and I don't know about you but I don't want to have to pay to incarcerate someone who doesn't know the meaning of self control.
 @Jason7784 If the first DUI carried a mandatory 30 day jail sentence, I think you'd see a dramatic drop in re-offenders. A 5 year revocation doesn't offer anyone redemption or the opportunity for correction.
How about also toughing up laws in general and giving out stiffer penalties to repeat offenders.
Texting while driving is beyond insane. You need your eyes and mind on the road as much as possible. I even avoid talking on the phone (hands free of course) because of the distraction. It is bad enough out there trying to avoid bicycles, pedestrians, and animals with adding the distraction of putting on make up, texting, talking on the phone or driving with your damn dog in your lap. I was hit by a guy lighting a cigarette doing 60 mph. I still suffer from it. Do you want that or worse on your consonance???
sound GREAT to me! If the possibility of killing yourself and/or someone isn't enough incentive, perhaps hitting the pocket book will do it. Sad that the pocket book matters more than the injury/loss of life....
Go for it. Anyone that chooses to text while driving is a danger to those around them. If higher fines encourage even a few people to pull off the road to do their texting then it's worth it. An accident that is caused by texting is an accident that could easily have been avoided.
Texting and driving is no good... but people still put on makeup, eat tacos or whatever else while driving on the freeway every day.
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The only people that are NEVER obviously distracted while driving seem to have tinted windows.
It's shameful that the leadership in olympia would wait to install tougher laws until the federal government offers money to do so. Playing politics with innocent drivers lives is as corrupt as it gets.
The government and the state make a lot of laws that are useless, stupid and make no sense. This law however, is a good one. A person should NOT text and drive. If the state wants to start enforcing this more, regardless of whether or not they get an incentive, than I will back them . There are already plenty of people driving who should have never been granted a license in the first place. Texting and driving just makes the issue worse..