The Ohio State Highway Patrol has a message for drivers — keep your eyes on the road.
“We now can, and will, pull motorists over for texting while driving,” OHP Ashtabula Post Lt. Jerad Sutton said.
State law now identifies underage texting while driving a “primary violation,” Sutton said, meaning a law enforcement officer can initiate a traffic stop based solely on that offense. Other offenses, such as driving without a seat belt, are considered “secondary violations,” meaning that an officer must have another reason to initiate the traffic stop. Adults who text and drive fall under the “secondary violation” offenders and must be pulled over for another moving or equipment violation.
The state law restricts anyone from “driving distracted,” Sutton said, and also prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from even talking on the telephone while driving.
“Anyone over the age of 18 can talk on a cell phone while driving,” Sutton said, “but no one can text and drive.”
The fine will be $150, the OHP website reports. Drivers 17 years old or younger will pay the fine and suffer a 60-day license suspension. Officers will issue warnings to violators for six months and then start ticketing.
The term “distracted driving” covers much more than just cell phone use in the car, Sutton said.
“Distracted driving means no texting, no searching the internet, no reading a book, no messing around with the gadgets in the car including GPS systems, cell phones, iPad’s and iPods,” he said.
Over the last three years, 31,231 crashes, including 7,825 injury crashes and the deaths of 74 people were caused by distracted drivers, OHP reports.
OHP reports that sending or reading text messages takes a driver’s eyes off the road for about 4.6 seconds — just about the time it takes to drive the length of a football field at 55 mph.
“Distracted driving certainly is dangerous,” Sutton said. “We use a distracted driving simulator from ODOT to demonstrate just how dangerous it can be to be looking at a cell phone instead of the road. It’s a real eye opener.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
TEXTING WHILE DRIVING is now considered a primary traffic violation, meaning law enforcement officers can pull over a driver for the single offense. MARGIE NETZEL
Discussion
Eyes on the road
OHP to begin ticketing for texting while driving
- Local News
-
-
Local financial institutions get top marks from service
Area financial institutions earned stellar reviews in the latest report from an independent bank research firm.
-
Conneaut, GV high schools earn magazine’s accolades
Two Ashtabula County high schools have been honored by U.S. News and World Report for their scholastic achievements, according to the magazine’s website.
-
Counterfeit money being passed in county
Several cases of counterfeit bills have been reported in recent weeks, according to the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Department.
-
27 indicted by Ashtabula County Grand Jury
EDITOR’S Note: The indictment of a person by a grand jury or otherwise is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. All information is taken from Ashtabula County Common Pleas Court records.
-
Public hearing today on CDBG funding
The second of two required public hearing on the Community Development Allocation Grant Program, the Neighborhood Revitalization Grant Program and Critical Infrastructure Grant Program will be today.
-
Ashtabula receives Safe Routes to School grant
Children walking to the Ashtabula Lakeside Elementary Campus soon will have a safer route to school.
-
Two charged in knife assault
Two men were charged Monday after an alleged assault involving a knife over the weekend.
-
Ohio police chief takes criminals to task online
If you’re up to no good in this pocket of northeast Ohio, especially in a witless way, you’re risking not only jail time or a fine but a swifter repercussion with a much larger audience: You’re in for a social media scolding from police Chief David Oliver and some of his small department’s 51,000 Facebook fans.
-
WINDS OF CHANGE
What started out to be a perfect day for a sailboat race, ended up being the opposite as high winds forced officials to call the race before it even got started.
-
Nice weather makes for good turnout at Jefferson Depot Village Strawberry Festival
Although storms threatened the area Sunday, sunny skies and warm temperatures prevailed, drawing a good crowd to the Jefferson Depot Village Strawberry Festival and Craft Bazaar.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Local financial institutions get top marks from service
