Put Down That Phone When You Get Behind The Wheel

In case you hadn't heard, Gov. Tom Corbett signed S.B. 314 into law yesterday. The measure, proposed by state Rep. (and now Montgomery County Commissioner-elect) Josh Shapiro, makes it a primary offense to text while driving.

Last month the General Assembly overwhelmingly passed the bill to ban reading, writing or sending a text message while driving. During debate on the issue, Shapiro offered an amendment on the House floor to strengthen the ban by making it a primary offense to text and drive. The amendment allows a driver to be pulled over for reading, writing or sending a text message while driving, as opposed to it being a secondary offense which would result in a fine after an accident occurs.

"I am thrilled that this measure is finally becoming law in Pennsylvania," Shapiro said in a release. "I have fought for years for this commonsense legislation. It isn’t often that lawmakers can truly know the effect of a new law in advance. This is one case where we do; signing this bill into law today will simply save lives on Pennsylvania’s roadways."

Nine states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation that bans the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia have banned texting while driving.

In Pennsylvania, tickets for violating the law will carry a $50 fine.