Texas Gov. Rick Perry vetoed the Legislature’s plan to ban text messaging for all drivers.
Perry called the distracted driving legislation a “government effort to micromanage the behavior of adults.” The veto came June 17. The law would have taken effect Sept. 1, 2011.
“The keys to dissuading drivers of all ages from texting while driving are information and education,” Perry said in his veto statement. He is campaigning for president, wooing voters on the right.
About a dozen bills addressing texting and driving were considered during the 2011 session.
Two new Texas distracted driving laws are in effect:
One banning teen drivers from using cell phones and text messaging devices;
the other prohibiting drivers from using handheld cell phones in school crossing zones.
Current prohibitions:
* Drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using wireless communications devices.
* Learners permit holders are prohibited from using handheld cell phones in the first six months of driving.
* School bus operators prohibited from using cell phones while driving if children are present.
* Drivers prohibited from using handheld devices in school crossing zones.
* Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Amarillo, Galveston, El Paso, Missouri City and Stephenville are among the Texas cities that have enacted local distracted driving laws.
Read the Texas statutes.
Text messaging and cell phone use while driving are bigger problems than five years ago, Texas motorists say. 85 of drivers interviewed said text messaging was worse, while 80 percent agreed that cell phone use had become a bigger problem than a half decade ago. (The Texas Transportation Institute interviewed 1,167 motorists at Texas Department of Public Safety Driver License Offices in fall 2010.) Supporters of a ban on handheld cell phone use while driving outnumber opponents by a two-to-one margin. Aggressive driving ranked with distracted driving as a danger cited by the drivers. (View a video about the Texas driver safety survey.)
Missouri City’s ban on texting while driving went into effect June 1, 2010. Law applies when vehicle is stopped. Fines up to $500. The city posted traffic signs stating: “No Texts Emails or Apps While Driving.”
Galveston has banned text messaging while driving within city limits. Fines up to $500. The City Council voted to outlaw texting for motorists on Jan. 14 and the ban went into effect immediately.
Source credit: http://handsfreeinfo.com/texas-cell-phone-laws-legislation
Perry called the distracted driving legislation a “government effort to micromanage the behavior of adults.” The veto came June 17. The law would have taken effect Sept. 1, 2011.
“The keys to dissuading drivers of all ages from texting while driving are information and education,” Perry said in his veto statement. He is campaigning for president, wooing voters on the right.
About a dozen bills addressing texting and driving were considered during the 2011 session.
Two new Texas distracted driving laws are in effect:
One banning teen drivers from using cell phones and text messaging devices;
the other prohibiting drivers from using handheld cell phones in school crossing zones.
Current prohibitions:
* Drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using wireless communications devices.
* Learners permit holders are prohibited from using handheld cell phones in the first six months of driving.
* School bus operators prohibited from using cell phones while driving if children are present.
* Drivers prohibited from using handheld devices in school crossing zones.
* Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Amarillo, Galveston, El Paso, Missouri City and Stephenville are among the Texas cities that have enacted local distracted driving laws.
Read the Texas statutes.
Text messaging and cell phone use while driving are bigger problems than five years ago, Texas motorists say. 85 of drivers interviewed said text messaging was worse, while 80 percent agreed that cell phone use had become a bigger problem than a half decade ago. (The Texas Transportation Institute interviewed 1,167 motorists at Texas Department of Public Safety Driver License Offices in fall 2010.) Supporters of a ban on handheld cell phone use while driving outnumber opponents by a two-to-one margin. Aggressive driving ranked with distracted driving as a danger cited by the drivers. (View a video about the Texas driver safety survey.)
Missouri City’s ban on texting while driving went into effect June 1, 2010. Law applies when vehicle is stopped. Fines up to $500. The city posted traffic signs stating: “No Texts Emails or Apps While Driving.”
Galveston has banned text messaging while driving within city limits. Fines up to $500. The City Council voted to outlaw texting for motorists on Jan. 14 and the ban went into effect immediately.
Source credit: http://handsfreeinfo.com/texas-cell-phone-laws-legislation
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