Are Higher Fines the Answer? | Seattle Car Accident Lawyer

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As a Seattle car accident injury lawyer, and the founder of Teens Against Distracted Driving, I am keenly aware of all of the recent discussion about the use of cell phones while driving. By now, we are all too familiar with the risks of texting or talking while driving. However, despite all these warnings, drivers continue to partake in this negligent driving habit, causing hundreds of Seattle auto accidents each year. Could higher fines be the answer to ending this voluntary negligent driving?

Recently, Senator Joe Simitian of Palo Alto introduced a bill to raise the fines for drivers caught using a cell phone without a hands free device while on the roads. The bill proposes to raise the base fine for texting from $20 to $100. Also, the base fine for using a hand held phone will rise from $20 to $50.

Under Simitian’s bill, bicyclist will also be fined for using a handheld cell phone. It makes no difference whether you are riding a bike or driving a car. It is a dangerous driving habit that leads to auto accidents each year.

California is currently only one of 19 states banning texting while driving. Many drivers are still unaware that the ban that has been placed and they continue to text while driving.
The bill may not put a complete end to this driving distraction, but it will certainly motivate drivers to think twice before they pick up their cell phones. It is one more way we can help reduce the number of auto accidents.

I recently started Teens against Distracted Driving (TADD), to inform teens about the dangers of driving distractions such as texting and driving. Car Accident Lawyers from around the country have joined the movement and are encouraging teens to take a pledge to end distracted driving.

This information is provided by Straight Talk Law, where you can order free information on Seattle auto accidents, auto insurance, and other valuable legal information, offered as a public service by King County personal injury attorney and author Jason Epstein and his Seattle auto accident, Everett motorcycle accident, and Bellevue wrongful death law firm in Seattle, Washington.