The state of Pennsylvania recently passed legislation prohibiting motorists from sending and receiving text messages while driving, but state law enforcement officials are having trouble enforcing the new law. Three of the most populous municipalities in Pennsylvania’s West Shore region — East Pennsboro and Upper and Lower Allen — haven’t ticketed a single driver for violating the state’s new texting ban, and neither have Lower Paxton or Susquehanna, two of the largest townships on the state’s East Shore. According to law enforcement officials, violations of the state’s ban on texting while driving are difficult to spot from the road under typical highway conditions. This problem is compounded by the fact that the state’s legislation prohibiting sending and receiving text messages while driving does not ban drivers from talking on their cellphones, so a driver holding a handheld communication device while behind the wheel of a moving automobile may not be violating the law. Texting while driving can be difficult to distinguish from talking on a cellphone even after a law enforcement official has pulled over a motorist. The fine for violating the state’s new texting ban is $50.
As a personal injury attorney in Riverside, I am hopeful that these new laws will help make the roads safer for motorists. If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident linked to distracted driving, please consider contacting a Riverside car accident lawyer.