by Ryder Schumacher
The Maine Legislature has recently added a law regarding drivers and the use of their cell phones. This law bans texting while driving, making Maine the 33rd state to do so. The law went into effect September 28th. Any driver caught texting while driving will be facing a $100 fine.
Before the texting and driving law was passed, the “Distracted Driver” law was the only piece of legislature in place that dealt with using a cell phone while driving. “We had a distracted driver la, which we still have, which was if you commit a violation like speeding or get in a crash while you were on your cell phone or changing the radio, then that’s when the distracted driving law applies” said South Berwick Police Officer Jeff Upton.
Officer Upton added “now if I see you texting with your phone on the wheel, and it appears that you’re texting, I can pull you over for that. The texting law is a primary offense.” A primary offense means one can be pulled over even if you aren’t a danger while driving.
The new law is not only limited to texting with cellphones. The Maine Legislature included in the act any “portable electronic device that is not part of the operating equipment of a motor vehicle, including but not limited to an electronic game, device for sending or receiving e-mail, text messaging device, cellular telephone and computer.”
The “Act to Prohibit Texting while Driving” was put into affect with the intent to direct drivers’ attention away from their cell phone messages and pay closer attention to the road. According to a press release Maine Governor Paul LePage said, “the intent of this bill is to improve safety for everyone using Maine roads,” and the bill is doing just that.
Teens who partake in the guilty pleasure of texting while driving will need to take into consideration the consequences of a $100 fine. One Marshwood student said “this law isn’t going to change how I text and drive. I think it will be very hard for any authority to catch me in the act.” It may be difficult to be caught texting and driving, however teens must take into consideration other drivers’ safety on behalf of their texts. The message can wait.
The Maine Legislature has recently added a law regarding drivers and the use of their cell phones. This law bans texting while driving, making Maine the 33rd state to do so. The law went into effect September 28th. Any driver caught texting while driving will be facing a $100 fine.
Before the texting and driving law was passed, the “Distracted Driver” law was the only piece of legislature in place that dealt with using a cell phone while driving. “We had a distracted driver la, which we still have, which was if you commit a violation like speeding or get in a crash while you were on your cell phone or changing the radio, then that’s when the distracted driving law applies” said South Berwick Police Officer Jeff Upton.
Officer Upton added “now if I see you texting with your phone on the wheel, and it appears that you’re texting, I can pull you over for that. The texting law is a primary offense.” A primary offense means one can be pulled over even if you aren’t a danger while driving.
The new law is not only limited to texting with cellphones. The Maine Legislature included in the act any “portable electronic device that is not part of the operating equipment of a motor vehicle, including but not limited to an electronic game, device for sending or receiving e-mail, text messaging device, cellular telephone and computer.”
The “Act to Prohibit Texting while Driving” was put into affect with the intent to direct drivers’ attention away from their cell phone messages and pay closer attention to the road. According to a press release Maine Governor Paul LePage said, “the intent of this bill is to improve safety for everyone using Maine roads,” and the bill is doing just that.
Teens who partake in the guilty pleasure of texting while driving will need to take into consideration the consequences of a $100 fine. One Marshwood student said “this law isn’t going to change how I text and drive. I think it will be very hard for any authority to catch me in the act.” It may be difficult to be caught texting and driving, however teens must take into consideration other drivers’ safety on behalf of their texts. The message can wait.
