New Louisiana Law Makes Some Cell Phone Uses Primary Offenses

From the Louisiana Legislature website

During the Louisiana Legislature's 2010 regular session, Senate Bill 9 was passed and signed into law by Governor Jindal.  The new law makes texting while driving a primary offense.  Currently, texting is a secondary offense, meaning a driver can only be cited for texting if he was pulled over for a different reason.  Drivers cannot currently be pulled over solely for texting while driving.  On August 15th, however, that will change.  Drivers will be pulled over just for texting while driving and will be fined up to $500 unless it is an emergency.

This law also makes using a cell phone while driving a primary offense for minors.  Drivers aged 17 and under will no longer be able to use cell phones on the road on August 15th of this year.  Louisiana will not be the first state to pass this type of law.  Cell phone use by new drivers is currently illegal in 28 other states, as well as in Washington D.C.  24 other states also currently have texting while driving listed as a primary offense, and the use of handheld phones in the driver's seat is not allowed at all in six states.  These laws are being created around the country in an effort to cut down on avoidable accidents on the road.