A texting while driving ban has been on the table in Ohio for some time now, but it wasn’t until June 1 when the new law was signed. According to the Columbus Dispatch, Governor John Kasich was surrounded by a number of victims and family members effected by distracted driving, when he signed the bill on Friday to make Ohio the newest state with a texting while driving law.
The new law will go into effect on September 1, 2012. While the main provision of the law will be a ban on text messaging and driving, it will also account for drivers under the age of 18 to be banned from using any electronic devices, no matter whether they’re making a call or a text message.
The new law for minors will be a primary enforcement ban, meaning a violation would produce a $150 fine and a 60 day license suspension. A second violation would bring a $300 fine and a suspension of a license for a year’s time. None of these fines or suspensions will be levied during the first 60 days of the ban being in place, however, as law enforcement officers will be issuing warnings.
According to the report from the Dispatch, the governor was questioned on how successful the state could be in enforcing the new laws. Kasich responded by saying that “law enforcement will know how to enforce the law and will do so aggressively.”
It’s likely that the enactment of the new law is just the start of add-ons related to distracted driving in the state of Ohio. The law will be closely monitored for success by state leaders and depending on the impact of the law, there could be improvements added into the future.
Of course the new law will help cut down the distracted driving accidents in Ohio, but this new law will come with some discrepancies. There are potential rights violations in question: How will the police accomplish and enforce this new law? How will they distinguish a minor from an adult driver? Minors can be pulled over and charged for the violation as a primary offense while adult drivers would have to commit another violation before police could enforce the law onto them. This could cause many issues for young adults pulled over and cited for texting while driving when the officer may have assumed he/she was a minor.
The Bottom Line: No matter why you may be pulled over, it’s important to know your rights. If you become accused of a traffic crime in Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky, such as texting while driving, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, a hit and run or another traffic violation in Ohio, call me, Christopher L. Jackson, Attorney at Law, at (859) 261-1111.
