Thursday, March 28, 2013
Teens with a temporary drivers permit, or a level 1 or 2 graduated license, will be prohibited from using a cell phone while driving a car under a law that takes effect Thursday.
A new Michigan law, known as "Kelsey's Law" which prohibits teen drivers from using a cell phone while driving a car, goes into to effect Thursday. According to the bill signed into law earlier this year, if any driver with a temporary drivers permit or a level 1 or 2 graduated license - meaning any driver under the age of 17 - is stopped for a moving violation, he or she could be cited with a civil infraction for using a cell phone. Because the violation is a civil infraction, local municipalities will determine the fine. The legislation was named for a 17-year-old Sault Ste. Marie girl who died in a car crash in 2010 while she was using her cell phone. Readers of the Brighton Patch Facebook page were asked about their thoughts of law. …
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Livingston County legislators Rep. Bill Rogers and Rep. Cindy Denby supported the legislation.
A new Michigan law prohibits teen drivers from using a cell phone while driving a car. According to MichiganVotes.org, Senate Bill 756 applies to any driver with a temporary drivers permit or a level 1 or 2 graduated license—meaning any driver under the age of 17. The law, building on current texting and driving laws, makes it a civil infraction for a teen to use a hands-on cell phone. Dubbed "Kelsey's Law, the legislation is named for a 17-year-old Sault Ste. Marie girl who died in a car crash in 2010 while she was using her cell phone. Snyder signed the bill into law Tuesday, according to the Detroit News. The law passed 74-33 in the House of Representatives and 28-10 in the Senate. Rep. Bill Rogers (R-Brighton) and Rep. Cindy Denby (R-…
Friday, October 12, 2012
Law enforcement agents say yes, you can, get pulled over for texting and driving in Michigan, but the law is difficult to enforce.
- PUBLIC SAFETY
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Friday, October 12, 2012
Texting and driving is illegal in Michigan, but local and state law enforcement agents and experts say the law is difficult to enforce. Public Act 60 of 2010 prohibits operating a motor vehicle while reading, typing, or sending a text message on an electronic wireless device. There have been 5 distracted driving crashes so far this year in Brighton and 11 in Hartland, according to the Traffic Improvement Association of Michigan. Sgt. Hodecek of the Livingston County Sheriff's Department said the texting and driving statute is difficult to enforce since they need proof, such as an admission by the driver they were doing it. "It's difficult," Hodecek said. "We have to witness and/or prove that they were texting while driving. If their using…
Monday, October 8, 2012
We asked readers to tell us why they won't text and drive, and here's what they said.
Patch.com in Michigan partnered with AT&T to raise awareness about distracted driving. As part of our series, we are rewarding readers who commit to not text and drive with a contest. Here are the winners, and why they won't text and drive: Denise Roberts of Milford: I will never text and drive. My son and I watch too many drivers distracted by their phones. Talking and texting in school zones also should be illegal. I see too many parents picking up their children from school that are distracted with cell phone use. This puts our children and others at risk just walking to school. Deborah Lines of Troy: I pledge to never text and drive because I value my life and those of my children and their friends who often ride in my car. By setting …
Friday, September 28, 2012
Tell us why you won't text and drive and you could win some cool prizes, including smart phone with accessories that promote safe use! Patch has partnered with AT&T to raise awareness about distracted driving.
You've no doubt glanced over at a driver next to you and see him texting. AT&T's "It Can Wait" campaign discourages the dangerous behavior. Distracted driving contributed to 5,474 traffic deaths in 2009 nationwide, and 3,986 accidents in Michigan last year. "Our goal is to save lives," AT&T Chairman & CEO Randall Stephenson said in a release. Patch.com in Michigan is partnering with AT&T to raise awareness about distracted driving. We are launching a series of stories and, in partnership with AT&T, are also rewarding readers who commit to not text and drive. We want to know what stops you from texting and driving. In the comments below, finish this sentence, "I won't text and drive because ..." Maybe it's for family, a friend, a pet, or …
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Shavonne Jones of AT&T hopes the DriveMode app will save lives by keeping drivers' focus on the road.
It happens to many every day. The beckon of a digitized "ding" alerting cell users that a text message has come in while you're behind the wheel. One woman, an AT&T Detroit employee, has come up with a solution to combat the problematic temptation of texting while driving. "It's kind of like an out-of-office alert," Jones said of the free DriveMode app. "You can program your message: 'I’m driving right now. I can text you back later.'" Shavonne Jones' DriveMode app allows users who download it to program a message that it automatically sends to callers and texters. It correlates with the mission of AT&T's “It Can Wait” campaign, which urges drivers to wait until they're no longer behind the wheel to send text messages. Although texting and…
Friday, March 16, 2012
Senate-passed bill would affect new motorists with graduated licenses.
Cellphones and the youngest drivers don't go together safely, a majority of Michigan senators believe. Under a proposal that passed the Senate by a 28-10 vote Thursday, teens with Level 1 or 2 graduated licenses could be ticketed and fined for driving while chatting on a phone – even in hands-free mode. The bill now goes to the state House. Backers want to reduce risky distractions among newcomers behind the wheel. Some senators voted against the measure because they favor a broader crackdown, the Associated Press reports. The legislation is called "Kelsey's Law" in memory of a Sault Ste. Marie 17-year-old who had a fatal crash while talking on her phone in 2010. Teens with Level 3 licenses, typically issued to 17-year-olds, would be …
Mike Voories
8:10 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
There's been a careless driving law on the books for years. This texting law is redundant and little more than a knee jerk reaction by law makers to "do something" about the obvious dangers of texting while driving. Could just enforce the careless driving rules when an officer sees someone doing something stupid (i.e. texting while at the wheel). more ›