Do you text and drive? The fine could soon be four times as expensive
A state lawmaker who wants to crackdown on distracted driving plans to push for a proposal to increase penalties for those who drive “under the influence of an electronic device.”
Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken, said he plans to prefile the bill on Wednesday, according to multiple media reports. The bill would bar drivers from holding their phone, typing sending or reading texts, the Aiken Standard reported.
“It’s not OK to drive drunk. It’s also not OK to drive under the influence of an electronic device,” says the draft legislation, according to the paper.
In addition to banning texting while driving, the bill would increase fines from $25 to $100.
Taylor told ABC News 4 that he plans to introduce the law because “we’re killing people.”
“It really is the same, or worse offense, than drunk driving,” Taylor said. “So, let's call it what it is.”
The 2018 Legislative session starts Jan. 9.
Cynthia Roldán: @CynthiaRoldan
This story was originally published December 14, 2017 at 11:36 AM with the headline "Do you text and drive? The fine could soon be four times as expensive."