May 21
How Driving While Text-Messaging or Using a Cell Phone Will Soon Get You 2 Tickets
Earlier this month, Gov. Christine Gregoire signed legislation that will allow the police to issue drivers traffic infractions if a driver is talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving or the driver is text-messaging. These laws go into effect in 2008 in the State of Washington. But BEWARE! If you are stopped and cited, you will likely be cited for two traffic infractions instead of one. How can this be? The Legislature made these new traffic offenses "secondary" offenses, which means that an officer must observe another traffic offense - or primary offense - prior to citing you for the secondary offense. So if you are behind the wheel and doing what an officer believes is speeding or making an unsafe lane change, and you're holding your cell phone to your ear at the same time, you can then be cited for two traffic infractions. If you have a cell phone and wish to use it while driving, you may obtain a hands-free device to use while communicating and steering. Of course, if you are the unlucky recipient of a traffic infraction, give us a call (on your cell phone if you prefer).
'cell phone' 'text-messaging'
