Legal Questions? / Legal Answers!
Using Your Cell Phone While Driving
So how many uses do our cell phones provide
while we are driving? Of course there is
the talking and texting features. There is
also video recording and picture taking,
We can play our musical playlists through
most vehicles now with our phones. Most of
us even use our cell phones to find our way
to any location we need to find. Our cell
phones do a lot of good...but still can be
the most dangerous item we carry in our vehicles.
Why? Because most people are impatient. The
need to know right now, sometimes overtakes
common sense. Maine was disappointed when
Gov. LePage vetoed a texting while driving
law. He wants the distraction law in Maine
enforced, which he believes covers that law.
Now remember, driving distracted covers almost
anything. Fast forwarding a song your playing
through your phone could also be considered
a distraction.You don't have to be involved
in an accident or pulled over for a traffic
violation to be charged for driving while
being distracted. If they think they see
you texting or using your phone, that will
be their probable cause for everything else.
Paul LePage would rather see that, than a
direct law on texting while driving."
- Using Your Cell Phone While Driving... Really?
Maine is one of 44 states that bans texting
while driving. All drivers, regardless of
age, are prohibited from texting while driving.
This is a primary law, which means you can
get pulled over by the police and penalized
for composing or sending a text message while
driving, even without committing another
traffic violation prior to that. If they
think they see you texting or using your
phone, they can pull you over for it. As
I stated, it will be written on your ticket
as distracted driving.
Like in most other states, Novice Drivers
in Maine are banned from ALL cell phone use
while driving. Novice Drivers mean drivers
under the age of 18, are banned from both
hand-held and hands-free cell phone use while
driving. It has been determined that distracted
driving is a significant problem among young
drivers. This is also a primary law. This
means that drivers older than 18 ARE allowed
to talk on a cell phone while behind the
wheel. However, the use of your cell phone
needs to be hands free. This would mean your
speaker phone would be used.
Again, it is against the law to drive while
distracted in Maine
The Distraction Law includes using cellphones,
laptops, eating food or reading roadmaps,
while you're behind the wheel.
The minimum fine for texting while driving
in Maine is $250, which refers to first-time
offenders, while repeat offenders face a
$500 fine. This includes emails and instant
messages, in addition to text messages (2014)
The Department of Public Safety listed distracted
driving as a cause in over 2,000 collisions
on Maine highways in 2014,
According to federal data, 10 percent of
the drivers under 20 involved in fatal crashes
were reported as distracted at the time of
the crash. For drivers in their 20s, the
figure was 27 percent.
Keep in mind if you cause an accident while
texting, that may also lead to a charge of
driving to endanger.
My Final Thought...
"This law is probably more easy for my generation
to follow than the current generation. We
were used to a phone that didn't leave a
wall and a machine we checked when we got
home that played us messages we missed. We
weren't in a hurry to know. Now a days we
all are because ... we can. We are very fortunate
that we get to share your technology with
you.I am sure we hope, for your own safety,
that you realize how easy it is to lose your
life when you take the time to check a message
that could have waited. The worst things
that can happen in your life will not be
texted to you. You will always get a call
on those subjects. The text is not THAT important
and it can wait. If I'm wrong then pull over
first before reading it. Your parents and
kids will thank you!"
Lovely Counter
Your Right To Remain Silent - Shut Up!
