A new bill has been filed for the upcoming legislative session in
Tallahassee that would prohibit drivers from using their cell phones at
all while in a school zone. Newly elected State Rep. Scott Plakon,
R-Lake Mary, says the bill will be considered.
"If there is a place where it should be a primary offense, that would be probably taken more seriously than kind of general use. Again a lot of schools have that policy."
This bill covers much more than texting and driving. It would make any use of a cell phone, even reading your phone in a school zone a "primary offense," meaning police could pull you over if they believe you are doing it. It would also mean a ticket could be issued that would put points on a person's driver's license. Plakon says making any use of a cell phone in a school zone a "primary offense" could hurt the effort to pass it.
"You always have to be concerned about consequences. Now you are talking about putting points on somebody's license that could ultimately lead to their license being taken away versus I think it is a 30 dollar fine. So that has to be looked at through a different lens before you talk about removing somebody's rights like that."
Plakon says the bill, filed by State Rep. Irv Slosberg, D-Delray Beach, has a hill to climb in Tallahassee.
"Probably three House committees, three Senate committees, the House floor, the Senate floor, and then the governor's staff."
If passed, drivers could be fined 60 dollars plus court costs, and would receive points on their license for a violation.
"If there is a place where it should be a primary offense, that would be probably taken more seriously than kind of general use. Again a lot of schools have that policy."
This bill covers much more than texting and driving. It would make any use of a cell phone, even reading your phone in a school zone a "primary offense," meaning police could pull you over if they believe you are doing it. It would also mean a ticket could be issued that would put points on a person's driver's license. Plakon says making any use of a cell phone in a school zone a "primary offense" could hurt the effort to pass it.
"You always have to be concerned about consequences. Now you are talking about putting points on somebody's license that could ultimately lead to their license being taken away versus I think it is a 30 dollar fine. So that has to be looked at through a different lens before you talk about removing somebody's rights like that."
Plakon says the bill, filed by State Rep. Irv Slosberg, D-Delray Beach, has a hill to climb in Tallahassee.
"Probably three House committees, three Senate committees, the House floor, the Senate floor, and then the governor's staff."
If passed, drivers could be fined 60 dollars plus court costs, and would receive points on their license for a violation.
No comments:
Post a Comment