KPLU Local News
(2010-06-10)
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Under the new law, you can't send or read a text while you're driving and you can't make a cell phone call unless you use a hands-free setup. Washington has banned calling while driving for two years now, but it used to be a secondary offense. That means you could only get a ticket if police stopped you for another violation. Now, it's a primary offense.
And State Patrol Sergeant Keith Trowbridge says troopers will be issuing citations, not just warnings.
"Now we can actually stop you for it," he says, "so there's really no need for a grace period. People have had time to get used to it, and they should be very familiar with the actual law."
Cracking down on texting and calling while behind the wheel is part of a growing effort to reduce distracted driving, which is blamed for a rising number of accidents.
Drivers caught with a cell phone in their hands can expect a $124 fine.
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