Texting-Driving Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Texting while driving in Florida would become a primary traffic offense punishable by fines under legislation given final passage by the Florida House.

The vote was 108-7 Monday for the bill, which now goes to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his signature.

Under current law, officers can only cite drivers for texting if they are pulled over for some other violation. The House-passed bill would allow officers to stop motorists simply for texting alone.

A first offense is punishable by a $30 fine, with a second offense costing $60. Court costs and fees also would apply.

Only warnings will be given until January, when officers can write citations.

The texting ban does not apply to a driver using a navigation device or system or to a driver whose vehicle is stationary.

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In this image from video, Key Biscayne resident Debbie Wanninkhof testifies before the Florida House State Affairs Committee in support of making texting while driving a primary offense, April 4, 2019 (Florida Channel via Key News)

The measure had strong support in Key Biscayne, where resident Debbie Wanninkhof worked for passage of the legislation. She lost her son, Patrick, to a distracted driver.

“When will enough be enough? ” she said in emotional testimony before a House committee earlier this month, recounting several recent fatalities attributed to cellphone distracted drivers. “The addiction of cellphone use while driving is an epidemic killer.”

Tony Winton contributed to this report.