Title
A Resolution Of The City Commission Of The City Of Hollywood, Florida, Supporting A Bill In The 2018 Florida Legislature To Make Texting While Driving A Primary Offense Under Florida Law; Providing For Conflicts; Further, Providing For An Effective Date.
Body
Staff Recommends: Approval of the resolution.
Explanation:
The Law currently provides that enforcement by state and local law enforcement agencies must be accomplished only as a secondary action when an operator of a motor vehicle has been detained for suspected violation of another provision of Chapter 316, Chapter 320, or Chapter 322, Florida Statutes.
Texting while driving is particularly dangerous because it involves cognitive, visual and manual distraction, facilitating the greatest crash risk of all forms of distracted driving. Currently texting while driving only carries a $30.00 fine as a traffic infraction.
Forty-six states consider texting while driving a primary offense, meaning an operator may be detained solely for the reason of texting while driving. Florida is only one of four states that considers texting while driving a secondary offense.
The City Commission finds it in the best interests of the residents of the City and all Floridians that enforcement by state or local law enforcement agencies be accomplished when an operator of a motor vehicle may be detained for the sole reason of texting while driving for the protection of the operator, motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
The City Commission urges the 2018 Florida Legislature to enact a bill that substantially amends Section 316.305 of the Florida Statutes, to make texting while driving enforceable as a primary offense.
Recommended for inclusion on the agenda by:
Mayor Levy
Dr. Wazir Ishmael, City Manager