Phoenix Issues First Citation for Texting While Driving

by Jay Thompson on November 19, 2007 · Comments

in Phoenix News & Events

From the Arizona Republic:

More than six weeks after the Phoenix City Council made it illegal to text message while driving, the police department has cited their first and only driver.

It happened Nov. 5 in north Phoenix when an officer pulled over the alleged offender.

“It is the only citation that has been issued since the city code went into effect,” Phoenix police detective Stacie Derge said.

Phoenix is one of the first cities in the nation to introduce a ban on sending and reading text messages while driving.

Text messaging while driving is nuts.  Our 16 year old son, who received a freshly minted drivers license in September got a long talking to about it. Suffice it to say the boy won’t be driving, ever, if he’s caught “DWT” (Driving While Texting).

I find it hard to believe that only one citation for this has been issued in over six weeks. The Phoenix ban was prompted by the tragic accident where an 18 year old driver crossed the median while texting, killing herself and another driver.

According to this report, 46 percent of teens nationwide admit to sending or receiving text messages while driving.  The article states that 97% of Colorado teens feel this practice is dangerous.

Gotta wonder about the other 3%…

[tags]teen driving, text messaging[/tags]


 

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  • Texting and driving is just plain crazy. I can't believe what people do while driving. I was thrilled when ABQ finally passed a ban against using a cell phone while driving which includes text messaging. Of course I still see numerous texting going on. - Ashley
  • Multi-tasking is all very well but texting while driving is just plain stupid! To say nothing of dangerous to other unsuspecting road users.
  • It's so sad that it took an accident that took the lives of two people before a law against an obvious stupidity was made.
    Out of interest, what's the punishment for offenders? Are new/young drivers being taught about this?
    In the UK it's illegal to drive using a cellphone unless it's on hands-free - is this the case in the US?
  • "Out of interest, what’s the punishment for offenders? Are new/young drivers being taught about this?"

    It's just a traffic ticket. Likely about $85 fine. (though I don't know for certain the exact amount.) And yes, it was covered in my son's driving courses, though at least in Arizona, Driver's Ed isn't required to get a license.

    "In the UK it’s illegal to drive using a cellphone unless it’s on hands-free - is this the case in the US?"

    In some cities this is the case. But definitely not everywhere.
  • Thanks Jay
    It saddens me that people are dying to use their phones while driving. There's a movement here in the UK to make the sentences tougher; it's hard not to agree when you here about stories such as Trinity - http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-2341...
    Well done for publicising this issue - I think it helps make people think about their actions.
  • Very Interesting post.
  • This problem will assume greater dimensions unless it receives the widest possible publicity and I am glad that you have blogged about this. Any use of a mobile phone device, even for talking, is fraught with danger and texting is the most dangerous as you have to look at the device to read as well as enter data. I would not be surprised if soon we soon start to hear about MAMPUWD (Moms Against Mobile Phone Usage While Driving).
  • A Colorado teen managed to kill a bicyclist while texting. Sadly the teen got off lightly.
  • This problem is not exclusive to teens... I have several adult friends who had car accidents while attempting to text message.
  • raechel
    crazy how dumb people are!!!
  • sharoo
    Hi,
    i am sharoo sunidhi.It’s just a traffic ticket. Likely about $85 fine. (though I don’t know for certain the exact amount.) And yes, it was covered in my son’s driving courses, though at least in Arizona, Driver’s Ed isn’t required to get a license.

    ====================================================

    sharoo

    Social Bookmarking
  • Lynda
    It really threatens me that people are dying because of using mobile phones while driving. We cant even digest this fact. It is the high time for us to provide stringent action against this and make our life green.
    -----------------
    Lynda
    Social Bookmarking
  • I'm sure the next citation of this sort is going to be for someone 'twitting' while driving.
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