This question is a no brainer. ANSWER IS, ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think texting while driving should be a primary offense, not a secondary offense. I also believe that talking on a cell phone while driving should be acceptable only with a hands-free device, not while holding a phone.

of course, Florida is so overdue to have this passed. cell phone usage while driving should also be banned, use a bluetooth only.... way to many accidents and deaths due to both..

Also they should heighten the penalty in the course of someone either texting or using the internet on a handheld device and an accident occurs. It's great to see messages on here in support of some sort of ban or law, but the reality is the majority of people driving are guilty of these offenses and the even the car manufacturers are guilty of adding more distracting technology to dashboards.

This question being asked just goes to show me how stupid some Fl. people are REALLY do you want an answer.Bob

Texting..NO. I was driving along 30th Ave N heading towards 19. The woman behind me was madly texting. I was watching her in my rear view mirror, and I was really afraid she was not going to stop when the light was red. I was planning on going straight thru onto 30th but changed my mind and took a left onto 19 to get away from that crazy lady.

TriTees
By all means it needs to be banned

You should only drive your car or truck. stay off the phone.

Like phone calls only with a blue tooth device that does voice to text and reading of texts.

texting and cell phones both should be banned while behind the wheel

All cell phone use should be banned while driving period as a primary stop &ticket

Ban It.... And eforce the ban. Why, it would give the local Deputies a REAL reason for writing a ticket for a change.

First of all, there is already a law which bans texting while driving, and NO one gives a crap about it. Second of all, learn how to multitask without killing yourself or others. Third, not everyone could afford those hands-free devices. If the gov't is willing to get everyone build in blue-tooth cars or get everyone those hands-free devices, I don't think this law is going to matter, thus will be a waste of tax payers' money. People just need to learn how to NOT text while driving.

Complete and uninterrupted focus is mandatory when operating a 2-3 ton motor vehicle. In event of non-compliance, penalty should be a stiff fine plus suspension of license and confiscation of cell.

no phone talking, no texting while driving!!! i was in a car accident due to the person behind me talking on her cell, i was rearended. i now suffer from a DAI brain injury and yes i was wearing a seatbelt. please look up that injury, you will learn lots.

Yes texting should be banned in Fla and across the US, it's as deadly and a drunk driver.

Wow.....as usual, I'll play the role of the contrarian.

Do you really want to give this type of power to law enforcement agencies to pull automobiles over based on an officer believing the operator is using a wireless device? You really think words on paper protect you and keep you safe?

I suppose many of you believe we should have the red light cameras to "keep us safe" as well. Well I do not know about where you live, but the ones around here have yet to stop an automobile from running a red light. I am still patiently awaiting the day I see a beam of light emit from the camera to physically stop vehicles from passing through the light.....until this day occurs, I will live in reality knowing red light cameras do not keep us safe and they are nothing more than a tax on the people. By the way, for those receiving a citation for this in Pasco County, go ahead and contest it citing Pasco County Judge Anne Wansboro's 2/17/12 decision.

As for the texting legislation.....like most politicians, Rep Holder is simply grandstanding as a protector of Florida roadways, but as usual, the outcome will be much different than it's intent.

So I am curious, do you really think this is going to stop people from texting while driving? Should the Govt install cameras in every vehicle to ensure every operator is a good little slave? Should they add even more cameras to surveil us as we drive around the Tampa Bay area? I know I love driving on Belcher road.

If you believe texting should be banned.....how about the use of MP3 players? Touching the radio? Putting on makeup??? Drinking coffee?? Eating? Putting on makeup?? Lighting a cigarette? Lord knows we should execute the cig smokers who throw their butts out the window.

How about we cite mothers or fathers for attempting to deal with children in the back seats? Perhaps we should prosecute those who rubber neck near accidents??
How about prosecuting law enforcement officers for using their computer as they are driving?

By the way, don't you just loooooooooove how the serfs have to follow the law, but others are exempt like law enforcement.....but only for official duty. So does this mean We the People can demand an officer prove, via phone records, the witnessed use of a wireless device was for official duty? And how is their "official duty" any more important than say my business or family??

Such a large percentage of people wanting to give officers the power to pull people over for thinking they can see inside their automobiles is alarming. By all means, subpoena phone records when a crash occurs, but to give officers the ability to pull us over on a whim is freaking crazy. Just because there are many idiots incapable of doing something doesn't mean every other person should be punished.

The sooner people realize Govt isn't the answer to every problem, the sooner we can let common sense reign which inevitably will lead to proper change.

I removed my comment. I apologize for offending anyone with what I said. I'm withdrawing from further comments.

This is just the House version of the same old poorly written bill as last year. Until it is rewritten it doesn't stand a chance of passing. In short, it makes what FedEx and UPS drivers do hundreds of times a day illegal because the law would be in effect even when the vehicle isn't moving. That means if you pull over to the side of the road to respond to a text, you are guilty too.

On 11/2/2012, a 23 year old girl with baby in the car, was texting when she put $2500. damage to the back of my car because she did not realize that the light was red and she was suppose to stop. BAM!!!! Thank God I was not hurt... Yes by all means it should be outlawed as well as talking on a hand held cell phone.

Texting while driving should not be permitted at all and should be a primary offense, not one in effect only if the person is pulled over for another offense. It's too late by then. Should I be allowed to read the newspaper or a book while driving? I also feel driving while chatting on a cell should not be allowed at all, hands free or not, but will accept a law that only permits hands free. Not sure why, just trying to be compromising. Personally, I wish the damn things would go away in any social or driving situation!

The person above with the comment about UPS/FedEx drivers is a good and valid one. As with any laws, there has to be reason and exceptions. Life isn't black and white.

I agree, I moved here from punta gorda about A year ago & they enforced A noise control on music in your vehicle,let me say how WAUNDERFUL it is to be at A stop light & not have to hear the thumping,vibrating,screaming noise. My point being is these "little" infractions do work. Bravo!

yes, please

DEFINITELY BAN TEXT AND TALK I took my own little poll and always the vehicle that would sit there when the light turned green and the vehicle that followed too closely and the vehicle making a right on red without stopping...Gee - those instances always had an individual on a cell phone - surprise! and for some reason and this is not my opinion but part of my casual poll, the drivers were in these huge SUV's and generally 30 something females.........
I see cell phones as a danger to anyone on the road, they are not ;paying attention to driving as they should and that's where the danger comes in......lijke we didn't know that...lets pass this law and hopefully make our roads somewhat safer...
Happy Holidays

Its a safety hazard . Its not just that something can happens to you ,its the irreparable pain that you can causes to someone else.

I agree texting driving in a MOVING vehicle should be banned. I do not believe you should be ticketed for texting at a red light, or while not actually moving but in control of the vehicle. This law will get you ticketed even if you are stopped but in the drivers seat.

You can see many accidents that happen are due to texting as so many are being rear ended due to traffic slowing down and the person texting didn't see it coming.

50 States should ban texting while driving, not just 39. It's irresponsible and potentially deadly. The statistics speak for themselves.

Why not just have an app on the phones that doesn't allow for texting after a certain rate of speed?

It should be any handheld. Get a bluetooth if you need to chit chat in the car. Further you should get pulled over if they see you..just like the seatbelt law

Texting and using the phone should be banned in all States. It is a no brainer. The research and crash data are there as evidence. Florida should be a leader in passing a well written law followed by strict inforcement .

Since all newer cell phones have a GPS built into them, it would be easy to stop the signal from the cell towers if the cell phone is moving. Someone will sell software to override it, but that could be made unlawful also. Of course the cell phone network companies are against the ban, because they make money on people texting and talking while driving. And the lobbyists pay the politicians to vote against the ban

Ay, any thing that detracts full attention for the job of driving a vehicle should not be allowed. Please notice I said JOB full time employment. To many people today are under the premise that driving is a leisure activity. You have a purpose for being in control of a conveyance and you have a responsibility to do it safely.
Stan Hafers

DO IT! VOTE YES

As usual, statistics do not align with the rhetoric of the majority.

You know, a wise man once said, "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect"

Being that I haven't actually witnessed an uptick in accidents since the dawn of the texting generation, I figured I would check out some statistics from the Florida DMV.

Starting in 1995, the year I relocated to the State, here's the recorded crashes per day in Florida.......again, according to Govt provided statistics.

1995----626
1996----660
1997----659
1998----672
1999----667
2000----674
2001----704
2002----686
2003----667
2004----691
2005----736
2006----702
2007----702
2008----665
2009----646
2010----645
2011----625

The years 95-98 yielded more average crashes per day at 654 than the past 4 years, which averaged 645 per day.

****The pretexting years of 1995-1998 produced more traffic crashes per day than the past 4, which have seen an overwhelming increase of texting while driving******

Heck, last year, 2011, the state had it's LOWEST number of traffic crashes in nearly 20 years.

Vote YES! Just DO IT!

Hey Stan
Thanks for that...and I guess most forget-- Driving is a privilege not a recreational activity...

Emphatically, YES! And ALL sheriffs should be more vigiliant in enforcement!

If we ban texting while driving we most definately should ban the use of something much more distracting like laptops in all vehicles...so lets do whats right to ban both of them....

I assumed we had laws against unsafe drivers already. I see people all day every day that probably should not be driving. I'm guessing some of them don' even know what a text is...

What is next radios and children being banned in cars as a distraction?

Self-driving cars are in our not to distant future, but in the meantime as I constantly dodge those individuals on the roadways who are texting and blabbing on the phone not paying attention to what they're doing it would be a welcome relief to not have to be on constant high alert for those less considerate - ban texting and talking on the phone while driving. http://money.msn.com/saving-money-tips/post.aspx?post=db5979cd-59fa-42e3-8200-d90ed0a48ccb

Ban driving in Fl.

States that ban texting while driving: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming.

Note that Florida is NOT on this list, The Florida legislature has refused to pass a new law that restricts cell phone use. Last year, the Florida legislature rejected 18 different proposed bills that related to driving and cell phone use and texting.

I see a variety of opinions and different viewpoints, which is good, this is America.

I feel that texting while driving should be viewed along the same lines as a DUI. If someone causes an accident as a result of "Driving Under the Influence" of texting, then fines/penalites should be steeper. Maybe the offense could be DUIT. Hmm.

Jackie

Just my opinion.

Definitely. Driving is a privilege that should be respected. Too many innocent people get hurt because of the negligence of others.

Ban all non-hands free mobile devices from all vehicles. When you behind the wheel of a vehicle you should be driving!. Penalties should be at least as severe as those who do not buckle up.

Driving is a privilege - not a right. Government needs to provide reasonable guidelines for people using public roadways as the very life of other motorists are threatened by those who refuse to use basic common sense.

About Time, been waiting for this for years and hope it's inforced and they get high fines. So glad

It is more dangerous to drive while texting than to drive while intoxicated. Have you seen these nincompoops? They should make a screen for the steering wheel or something because people are going to do it regardless.

www.bradenton.co

Daily, I drive at least 60 miles between Pasco and Pinellas county....and have driven all over the Tampa Bay area for the past 17 years. As I previously stated and the daily crash report backed it up, I have not seen an increase in accidents as texting usage has increased. Govt statistics actually show a decrease in auto accidents the past few years.

As I drive between the two counties, I notice limited amount of cell phone use by people. As another referenced, the majority of the ones swerving and driving aimlessly aren't texting.........they are usually the elderly or quit possibly Canadian.

Some have alluded to facts or research.......well let's see it. I've been the only one except for Jamie, to show any data supporting either side of the argument. Where's your data? With so many clamoring for this legislation, you would think the roads are littered with fatalities every single hour from all the texting while driving. Sorta like every person needed the "free" healthcare since the streets were littered with dead and dying individuals.

And for Diane L and Pikehunter referencing how all the States should be carbon copies of one another.........................how about we get that income tax thing going here in Florida. I know I want to more progressive like California and New York. Don't you guys want to protect the economy of the State? I know I do, let's all rally behind the implementation of an income to protect the citizens of Florida.

We have seat belt laws. Boy, they really made the roadways safer. How's this being enforced....or inforced for the ignorant.

How do you expect a texting ban to be enforced? Shall we hire more law enforcement.......some type of special agency to peer into our automobiles? Seriously, how will this be enforced?

I break the law near law enforcement all the time. There's words on paper prohibiting a few things I do while driving and it doesn't stop me......what will words on a paper do to stop people from texting?

Has the red lights stopped people from running them?

How about laws against murder? I remember Eve balling her eyes out......."if only we had a law against murder, Adam, then Abel would still be alive"

And for you who believe driving is a "privilege," I will argue we have the RIGHT to freely travel.

Take a look at the progression of the "drivers license." You really think they've always required the common folk to have a license to drive? Nah........but as usual, everything is done through incrementalism and under the guise of safety.

Driving may be a privilege according many, but a free person has the right to travel freely.......check out the President of the Libertarian party of Florida.....Adrian Wylie......check out his drivers license story. FYI: He surrendered his license nearly two years ago and the Sheriff dept is well aware, Sheriff Bob in Pinellas was on Wylie's 1340am Liberty Underground show. Withdraw consent people.

Freedom means we are free to do as we please so long as we do not infringe upon the rights of another.

When an accident occurs infringing upon your "rights," then you can complain, but until something actually happens, you cannot involve the Govt because you believe "bad manners" should be legislated against.

So basically you want Govt involved even if your rights truly weren't infringed upon?Should the authorities arrest me simply because I APPROACHED the bank with a ski mask on? I didn't actually commit a crime, but I did cause others in the area to have a heart attack because they assumed I was going to rob the bank. I know this isn't the best analogy, but a citation for this incident is just as absurd as what you are advocating.

Again, once your safety is actually comprised, IE: something actually occurs affecting your safety, then you have a basis for railing against the actions of another, but until these actions actually infringe upon your rights, not just your emotions, you have no basis for involving law enforcement.

Until something actually happens to you, physically or economically, your Freedom still exists, but if we get the world you prefer, the Freedoms of all will cease to exist because Govt will be involved in every single aspect of life.

YOU CANNOT LEGISLATE MORALITY OR BEHAVIOR.

Regardless, words on paper will change nothing; I occasionally text while driving and a ban wouldn't stop me...why do you believe it will stop others?

Mr. Clemens
you need something more constructive to do..this forum was not to rant about others like you have been...please do what you want and stop "picking" on the rest of us.

I am a BELIEVER that texting SHOULD be illegal - stop the cause before the cause gets you. This is preventative and reactionary......

Ok for some unknown reason people think its Ok to do stuff while driving - draw the line?? give me a break--while driving NOTHING else should be happening except driving so there is no "draw the line" If someone should be found out to be doing anything besides driving they should receive a ticket for "reckless" driving
Just sayin'................

Texting and cell phone usage should both be outlawed. I wrote to my congressman several years ago about this. It's about time our backward state legislators finally do something as many other states have already done.

This question is a no brainer. ANSWER IS, ABSOLUTELY, and have screaming kids in the car, fighting with your spouse, reading the paper, doing your hair & make up, eating more then 3 quarter pounders with fries, driving barefoot with a large dog hanging out the window. (I hope you are reading this mom!) Hands free voice call or hands free texting would be the exception. Texting while driving is dangerous, but this law like the red light cameras (for tourist only) where made to generate monies for the government. Growing up my mom did all of the above including driving very fast. She never had a wreck, but I will say that it has made me a timid man:-)

Let's see. . . with a .08 blood-alcohol concentration (only about four beers in an hour) a driver is 11 times more likely than a non-drinking driver to be involved in a crash and is considered legally drunk. If a driver consumes six beers in less than an hour (a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10 or greater) the likelihood of having an accident is now 48 times higher than the abstainer. And drivers using cell phones are 22 times more likely to be involved in accidents. When we get our driver's licenses, we agree to submit voluntarily to sobriety tests to prove that we are not drunk, and if we fail the test we get taken to jail. Yet proposed laws against cell phone use -- which is equally as dangerous as drunk driving -- will amount to nothing more than a warning? Not NEARLY strong enough!

ABSOLUTELY, TEXTING AND CELL PHONE USE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE A CAR SHOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW. It is a no brainer....why would anyone want to text or fumble around with a cellphone while driving. I have almost been hit several times by idiots talking on their cellphones. I also have witnessed drivers driving through red lights while talking on their cell phones...they weren't even aware of what they were doing.

Kathryn Baker

THANK YOU...well said.....

I guess some want to live in an uncontrolled world! Look what the lack of gun control got us.....enough said..

If you don't like go live in the woods somewhere away from civilization.

I actually spoke with a Pinellas County deputy today about this........he LAUGHED and said, "How am I going to enforce it?"

He basically admitted that even if passed as written, it will do nothing because there will be no way for the law enforcement to truly enforce it.

He asked, "How am I going to see them texting unless I am directly beside them looking into their vehicle.........especially with the tinted windows"

He also pondered, "What, am I going to pull every person over I see at a light looking down at something?"

Basically, he was answering the question NONE of you have yet to answer.........How will this be enforced?? It won't because there's no feasible way to truly enforce it the way many envision......and this deputy worked with traffic accidents for nearly 20 years.

Oh, and the kicker........the deputy said, "what, you going to ban guns too?"

Soooooo law enforcement and myself will be patiently awaiting how you all believe this will be enforced.

Mr. Clemens

Sooooo happy you Actually spoke with one of Pinellas County's SO's. and what you think they know anything that would matter. Don't care what he said because what he said is as ridiculous as the things you say....did you think I would change my mind just because you spoke with a SO????? you really need to get more of a life and stop trying to harass and intimidate people. The SO don't really care about much except themselves anyways not really looking out for the citizens. So really you just wasted your time and what you wrote doesn't mean a thing....Sorry for you better watch out as Karma does have a way of dealing with people like you what you put out there will always come back at you in one way or another
Have a peaceful evening.....Must be talk with an idiot day your are the second person who was mindless that came across my path today

Christine, prey tell.....whom do you believe will be enforcing this ban? Will it be you and your cohorts or will it be people like the officer I spoke with today?

You claim the SO doesn't care about the citizens.......do you believe this legislation will change their thinking?

And you've yet to answer what many do want to know, how do you anticipate this being enforced? This idiot is as dumbfounded as the deputy I spoke with regarding how this will be enforced.

I'll gladly accept Karma sending some learned individuals my way.

no cell phones or texting while driving, if you need to talk on the phone, pull off the road!

I am for banning texting, wearing blinders, and smoking hams while you drive. That said, why don't the cops just enforce the laws we already have on the books? Doesn't that fall into the distracted driving statutes? Pull-em over, write them up!

Texting and driving of course is not a good idea. I am a bail bondsman at 49th Street Bail Bonds in Clearwater FL and I have bailed people out of jail for traffic accidents caused by texting and driving. It's amazing that people think this is a safe way to drive and they continue to do it! So much to lose if you are texting and driving. As a bail bonds agency we are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can help you or a loved one if you need to bond out of jail. Call us at 727-592-0000 or visit us online at www.49thstreetbailbonds.com

Lets hope our idiot of a Governor signs it!