Last month, the Texas House passed a statewide ban on texting while driving. Members voted 113-32 to tentatively approve the legislation, which will be up for a final vote in the House before it can proceed to the Senate.
Texas is one of only four states in the country that do not have any statewide ban on texting and driving. According to the measure passed by the House, first offenders would be subject to a misdemeanor and could be fined up to $99. On the other hand, repeat offenders could be fined up to $200.
Texas actually tried to pass a ban on texting while driving at least three times in the past:
- In 2011, the Texas Legislature was successful in passing a statewide ban, but it was ultimately vetoed by Gov. Rick Perry.
- In 2013, a similar bill was passed but died after the Senate Transportation Committee refused to allow a vote on the bill.
- In 2015, another bill banning texting while driving was introduced passed the House but was defeated in the Senate.
About three dozen Texas cities already have a texting-while-driving ban in place. Cities would still be allowed to implement ordinances that are more severe than the proposed state law.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, 455 people were killed and more than 3,000 suffered serious injuries in collisions caused by driver distractions in 2016. On average, one out of every four car accident involved a cellphone.
For more information, contact our Harris County traffic ticket lawyer at Paul Kubosh, Attorney at Law today.
