Fed up with the state Legislature’s inability to pass a law preventing texting and driving, the city of Tucson is taking the matter into its own hands and could possibly take cell phones out of drivers’ hands soon, reports the Arizona Daily Star.
Tucson City Council members want to discuss the possibility of a texting while driving ban this week. A year ago, Phoenix was the only city in the state that had an outright ban on texting while driving. Since then, other cities have considered implementing bans in their own communities since the Legislature has been unable to approve a statewide ban.
Some members of the Legislature believe that the current laws against dangerous driving adequately cover texting and driving, according to the Daily Star.
Under Arizona law, drivers who are accused of driving with "reckless disregard" for the safety of others are guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor. Similar to Phoenix's ban on texting and driving, the Tucson ordinance will reportedly will be a non-moving civil traffic violation. Offenders would be fined $100 for texting and $250 if the texter is involved in an accident.
Supporters, on the other hand, believe a texting ban will enforce the idea that texting while driving is a dangerous activity, and 5,500 people died due to distracted-driving in 2009.
"Part of having the law in place is that regardless of enforcement, everyone has a little cop in their head, telling them what they should and shouldn't do," Rep. Steve Farley said. "And that pops into your mind when that buzz comes through and you want to answer that text."
Related Resources:
- Find a Phoenix DUI Attorney (FindLaw)
- Tucson Looking at a Ban on Texting and Driving (Associated Press)
- Texting While Driving (FindLaw)
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