What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MI
Michigan as recently enacted a law banning text messaging while driving. Below is the verbiage of the law.
The law seems a little vague. What constitutes a text messaging. Todays phones can do so much more than send a text messages. Reading a website, online bill paying, or a million other tasks (which also should never be done while driving) can be done with todays smartphones.
What tasks that you can perform would be in violation of this new law? Is an e-mail a text message? What about watching a You Tube Video on your phone while driving? Yes, most of these actions may be against the law in other sections, this was just some questions that were pondered around the water cooler at work.
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257.602b Reading, typing, or sending text message on wireless 2-way communication device prohibited; exceptions; violation as civil infraction; fine; local ordinances superseded.
Sec. 602b.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person shall not read, manually type, or send a text message on a wireless 2-way communication device that is located in the person's hand or in the person's lap, including a wireless telephone used in cellular telephone service or personal communication service, while operating a motor vehicle that is moving on a highway or street in this state. As used in this subsection, a wireless 2-way communication device does not include a global positioning or navigation system that is affixed to the motor vehicle.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an individual who is using a device described in subsection (1) to do any of the following:
(a) Report a traffic accident, medical emergency, or serious road hazard.
(b) Report a situation in which the person believes his or her personal safety is in jeopardy.
(c) Report or avert the perpetration or potential perpetration of a criminal act against the individual or another person.
(d) Carry out official duties as a police officer, law enforcement official, member of a paid or volunteer fire department, or operator of an emergency vehicle.
(3) An individual who violates this section is responsible for a civil infraction and shall be ordered to pay a civil fine as follows:
(a) For a first violation, $100.00.
(b) For a second or subsequent violation, $200.00.
(4) This section supersedes all local ordinances regulating the use of a communications device while operating a motor vehicle in motion on a highway or street, except that a unit of local government may adopt an ordinance or enforce an existing ordinance substantially corresponding to this section.
Michigan as recently enacted a law banning text messaging while driving. Below is the verbiage of the law.
The law seems a little vague. What constitutes a text messaging. Todays phones can do so much more than send a text messages. Reading a website, online bill paying, or a million other tasks (which also should never be done while driving) can be done with todays smartphones.
What tasks that you can perform would be in violation of this new law? Is an e-mail a text message? What about watching a You Tube Video on your phone while driving? Yes, most of these actions may be against the law in other sections, this was just some questions that were pondered around the water cooler at work.
-----------------------------------------------------------
257.602b Reading, typing, or sending text message on wireless 2-way communication device prohibited; exceptions; violation as civil infraction; fine; local ordinances superseded.
Sec. 602b.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person shall not read, manually type, or send a text message on a wireless 2-way communication device that is located in the person's hand or in the person's lap, including a wireless telephone used in cellular telephone service or personal communication service, while operating a motor vehicle that is moving on a highway or street in this state. As used in this subsection, a wireless 2-way communication device does not include a global positioning or navigation system that is affixed to the motor vehicle.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an individual who is using a device described in subsection (1) to do any of the following:
(a) Report a traffic accident, medical emergency, or serious road hazard.
(b) Report a situation in which the person believes his or her personal safety is in jeopardy.
(c) Report or avert the perpetration or potential perpetration of a criminal act against the individual or another person.
(d) Carry out official duties as a police officer, law enforcement official, member of a paid or volunteer fire department, or operator of an emergency vehicle.
(3) An individual who violates this section is responsible for a civil infraction and shall be ordered to pay a civil fine as follows:
(a) For a first violation, $100.00.
(b) For a second or subsequent violation, $200.00.
(4) This section supersedes all local ordinances regulating the use of a communications device while operating a motor vehicle in motion on a highway or street, except that a unit of local government may adopt an ordinance or enforce an existing ordinance substantially corresponding to this section.