Washington was one of the first of several states to enact laws that banned the use of cell phones without hands-free devices, and this ban included sending text messages. The intent behind the law is obvious and valid – distracted drivers create a higher degree of danger for others on or near the road than is reasonable, and forcing drivers to focus more on the task at hand would lead to safer driving conditions.

In terms of enforcement, Washington was busy writing tickets for these violations last year, according to Hands Free Info, a Web site that tracks these statistics:

“The fine for using a cell phone without a hands-free device is $124, but drivers must have committed another infraction to get that ticket.

One year after the cell phone driving law took effect, the State Patrol reported these numbers: 4,939 drivers were stopped for use of handheld cell phones and 1,659 were ticketed. The majority of stops resulted in warnings. For text messaging, the State Patrol said 577 drivers were pulled over and 221 tickets were written. The number of collisions attributed to use of handheld devices fell from 1,118 (2007) to 827.

State Sen. Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way, a sponsor of the hands-free requirement for cell phone use, reportedly is considering a new push to make violations a primary offense, meaning law enforcement officers may pull over drivers for that reason alone.”

While it’s clear that the number of collisions fell during the first year of enforcement, the long-term effects remain to be seen. Regardless, if you are hit by someone who is violating this law, it could lead to a higher presumption of negligence. If this sounds familiar, you need to contact the auto accident lawyers at Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.