The head of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety said he would support a statewide law in Arizona regarding cell phone use while driving, unless officers can prove that it is worth enforcing. Pheonix is currently the only city in the state with a
ban on texting behind the wheel.
"Is a person talking on the phone, is a person dialing a phone number? How can you prove, from outside of a vehicle, if a person is text messaging or dialing a phone number," he asked.
He said officers only have a few seconds to make a distinction, which makes it very difficult to enforce.
A law along the lines of Washington's all-out ban on cell phone use while driving is also not being considered, Gutier said.
Some experts compare texting and driving to
drinking and driving.
Arizona Department of Public Safety officer Carrick Cook has declined to comment on this matter.
Cook said he would not be surprised if a
texting driver was responsible for at least one minor or major accident a day on Arizona roadways.
A survey conducted last year by the Behavior Research Center said that about 90 percent of Arizonans would support some form of a cell phone use ban for drivers.
Washington State Distracted Driving and DUI Law
A person operating a moving motor vehicle while holding a wireless communications device to his or her ear is guilty of a traffic infraction.
A person is guilty of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug if the person drives a vehicle within this state.
Category: Distracted Driving Accidents
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