The new law prohibits looking at or sending texts, email or pictures while driving.
Police officials say for the next 30 days, there will be an informational period where authorities will be informing the public about the new law through signs and media.
Following that, a 30 day warning period will be in effect, where officers will be giving warnings to those found in violation of the law.
After the warning period, citations will be handed out.
I think I read in other states that the officer can request to see your phone. That seems a little tyrannical police state to me
It would seem to me that this would fall under the law regarding search warrants. I’m sure they can request to see your phone, but if you refuse, he would probably have to get a search warrant before he could do it.
Not that I’d suggest you buck the officer over it, that’s a good way to leave the scene with a rather large stack of tickets.
“Sire, it belongs in truth to the Church of God, in whose name I speak, to endure blows and not to inflict them. But it will also please your Majesty to remember that she is an anvil that has worn out many hammers.”…Theodore Beza
There need to be something done to enforce the law IMO. I have passed many vehicles on the road that you would have thought were drunk,only to see them on the phone reading, dialing or texting.
While I completely agree with the texting law, along with smoking bans, you simply can’t legislate the stupidity out of people.
Next we need to outlaw eating and putting on makeup while driving. Might as well make radios outlawed as well, and get rid of roadside advertising. Make cup holders obsolete. We are a stupid generation, and the gov’t is going to take full opportunity to police us to death.
They need to outlaw interweb shopping while they are at it! Lets not forget Telemarketers! Oh, they have already done that, haven’t they? If they don’t outlaw the interweb how about outlawing Pop-Ups.
How about they enforce the laws that we have and quit writing new ones? Yes, like seat belts, not texting may save your life, might not. Just another excuse to pull you over, check for warrants, and make a little money. I have been stopped on James Island for walking. WALKING!!! The officer wanted to inform me of the “dangers of walking” I BS you not. Just an excuse to check me for warrants.
How about a law requiring soccer moms who drive the biggest SUVs possible take a course in parking before being allowed to drive?
How about one that if your hair is colored silvery blue you cannot drive? Keep all the bluehairs off the road.
How about enforcing all of the people who park in handicapped parking simply because they are too fat and lazy to walk 10 more feet? I am not talking about the legitimately handicapped or elderly here.
People will simply put their phone in their laps and look down to text instead of holding it out in front of them. Won’t be long before we follow New York and it will be illegal to talk on the phone without a hands free device.
The whole “I’m from the Government, and I’m here to help” is BS. But all of the Sheeple want to feel safe. What a false sense of security.
I think you will see the enforcement after a collision. Of course they may observer a driver using a device and write a citation but when personal injuries are involved it will be a big deal. Hooking the device to the built in recorder in the vehicle will be a win win.