Texting While Driving Bill Awaits Governor's Signature

Two pieces of companion legislation were transmitted to Governor Lincoln Chafee for consideration on Wednesday and Thursday of last week that if passed, will increase the penalties for texting while driving.

The bills (2013-S 0546A, 2013-H 5675A), sponsored by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham) and Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick) on behalf of Attorney General Peter Kilmartin, allow the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal to consider license suspensions instead of or in addition to fines for each offense as follows:

• First offense: Individual is subject to an $85 fine or a license suspension for up to 30 days, or both;

• Second offense: Individual is subject to a $100 fine or a license suspension for up to three months, or both;

• Third offense or subsequent offense: Individual is subject to a fine of $125 or a license suspension of up to six months, or both.

“This new law will send a message to Rhode Islanders that we take this offense seriously,” Senator Sosnowski said. “A simple fine is not enough to deter a driver from texting while he or she is operating a vehicle. New drivers have to be especially careful and can be easily distracted by texting, which can result in life-changing tragedies on the road. The possible addition of a license suspension is a much more appropriate repercussion for such a dangerous practice.”

Representative Serpa added, “All it takes is a few seconds of taking your eyes off the road for something bad to happen. In an age when texting and emailing have become primary means of communication, we must remind everyone that the rules of the road still apply and it’s imperative that we all pay close attention to our surroundings.”

“Since cellular phone use has become a dependent source of communication in our society, we have seen the amount of traffic accidents due to text messaging and distracted driving rapidly increase,” said Attorney General Kilmartin, who sponsored the original texting while driving legislation when he was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. “Through education and deterrence, we can change drivers’ attitudes about this dangerous habit. This act will give the courts the discretion to impose stricter penalties on those who continue to text while driving, risking their own life as well as the lives of others on our roads.”