Distracted Driving a Primary Offense in Many States

6/23/2010

States are becoming increasingly serious about fighting distracted driving, judging from the growing trend of making laws against texting and using cell phones behind the wheel a primary offense.

A primary offense allows police to pull a person over if they are seen texting or talking on a cell phone. Otherwise, a driver can be stopped for a secondary offense only if they are observed committing another type of violation first.

Starting on August 15, Louisiana will become the latest state to make texting while driving a primary offense. Violators will face a fine of $175 for a first offense and $500 for any ensuing ones.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood praised the news in a statement, saying that "Innocent people should not lose their lives because someone chose to text while driving." The federal government has been playing a greater role in the nationwide effort to stop distracted driving.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety websites, most states that have distracted driving laws in place consider texting to be a primary offense, while a handful of others continue to consider cell phone use while driving a secondary offense.

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