With more and more people relying on their cell phones to stay connected, distracted driving has become a major issue. Texting while driving is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving, as it requires the driver to take their eyes away from the road. This is why drivers education and traffic school courses include lessons on the dangers of texting while driving and other risky driving behaviors.
But what are the consequences of texting and driving? Let’s look at some of the laws in place to discourage this behavior.
Texting and Driving in the United States
With an increasingly reliant population on technology, texting and driving have become a primary focus of concern when preventing accidents. In fact, 48 states in the U.S. have banned texting and driving, with Missouri and Montana being the only exceptions. This means you cannot use your cell phone to text, email, or access any other type of communication while operating a vehicle.
While most states in the United States have initiated laws banning texting while driving, Missouri and Montana stand out as the only outliers. These states do not just lack legislation against this risky driving behavior. They also do not have laws that actually protect drivers who run afoul of the policy and are then pulled over by authorities.
While a certain degree of protection from text-related penalties is beneficial in certain cases, it might be worth considering if it should come at such a high cost to overall safety.
Penalties for Texting and Driving
It is important to note that each state has its own laws regarding texting while driving. Some states have an outright ban, while others only prohibit certain types of activities (e.g., no texting, but you are allowed to make phone calls).
In addition, there may be exceptions depending on the state. For example, if you are using your phone for navigation purposes, it may not be considered a violation.
The penalties for texting and driving vary from state to state but typically involve a fine and/or points added to your license. If you accumulate too many points, then your license can be suspended.
The amount varies depending on where you live. In California, first-time offenders can receive a fine of up to $20 plus court costs. Meanwhile, in Colorado, first-time offenders may be fined up to $300 plus court costs. In addition to fines, states may impose other punishments such as license suspension or imprisonment (for repeat offenders).
Oregon’s Hefty Fine for Texting While Driving
Oregon has instituted one of the most severe punishments for texting and driving: a maximum fine of $1,000. Since then, this penalty has effectively discouraged drivers from engaging in distracting behaviors behind the wheel.
According to statistics released by Oregon State Police, since 2011, there has been a 50% decrease in crashes due to distracted drivers using their cell phones at the time of the crash.
Oregon is the first state to implement a hefty punishment for texting and driving. This extreme penalty stems from an incredibly tragic incident that occurred in 2009. A young woman was killed by a distracted driver while crossing an intersection. After her family spoke out against this negligent behavior, Oregon’s Chairman of Public Safety introduced a bill that would eventually create the strictest distracted driving policy in the United States.
This penalty was established after Oregon enacted Senate Bill 937 in 2009, which prohibited all cell phone use while operating motor vehicles (unless using hands-free technology).
Since implementing this law in 2010, Oregon has seen an average of 25% less automobile collisions caused by texting and driving. The steep fee acts as both a deterrent and reminder for drivers to keep their hands on the wheel instead of their phones – ultimately proving effective in keeping roadways safer for everyone involved.
Utah’s Strict Texting and Driving Laws
Another state with strict penalties for those caught texting while driving is Utah which imposes maximum fines of up to $750 plus possible point deductions from your license if convicted. Like in other states, too many points can lead to license suspension.
It is worth mentioning that Utah also enforces its penalties strictly. Those convicted will lose their driver’s license immediately upon conviction, with no possibility of suspending or reducing their sentence.
Can You Remove Points on Your License From Texting While Driving?
Texting while driving is an extremely dangerous decision that not only puts you at risk but also harms other drivers and pedestrians. If you’re caught engaging in this hazardous activity, it stands to reason that points will be added to your license.
Fortunately, there are ways to remove these bad marks from your record through traffic school programs. Depending on the state where you committed the offense, you may be ordered by the court to take a traffic school course to clear points from your driver’s license.
One great thing about traffic school courses is that many driving schools now offer them online. This means you can complete the course from the comfort of your own home without having to show up for days or weeks of instruction.
In conclusion, texting and driving is an incredibly dangerous activity that can have serious consequences both legally and personally. To ensure everyone’s safety on our roads, it is crucial that we all abide by these laws against distracted driving – not just because we risk getting fined but also because we could save another person’s life by avoiding distraction behind the wheel!
All 50 states have laws against texting and driving, so it’s important that we all familiarize ourselves with these laws before getting behind the wheel. Doing so will help ensure everyone’s safety!
Were you penalized for texting while driving? Do you need to take a traffic school course to remove points from your driving record? Check out our DMV-compliant traffic school courses here. For questions or assistance, call us at (877) 786-5969 or email [email protected].
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