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Politics & Government

Hands-Free Bill Would Increase Fines

Higher fines and a point on your license - the bill is on the governor's desk.

 

State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) is the godfather of hands-free laws in California. Now, his latest bill has landed on the governor’s desk.

According to Simitian’s office, Senate Bill 1310 increases the base fines for violating the hands-free cell phone and no texting while driving laws from $20 to $30 for a first offense, and from $50 to $60 for a subsequent offense.

With penalties and fees, the total cost of a first offense would rise to approximately $199, while a second offense would set you back about $371. The extra money would be used to fund a distracted driving education program in the California Office of Traffic Safety.

A second violation would add a “point” on a motorist’s driving record.

Find out what's happening in Palo Altowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Research has shown that our distracted driving laws are working,” Simitian said. “Yet we know there are still far too many drivers texting and talking on hand-held cell phones. This bill would toughen penalties, add the deterrent of a point on the driving record, and help fund a program to spread the word among those drivers that no text or phone call is worth the cost of a life.”

In March, the California Office of Traffic Safety reported  that overall traffic deaths declined by 22 percent, while deaths specifically attributed to driver hand-held cell phone use went down 47 percent following the implementation of the hands-free law.

Find out what's happening in Palo Altowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 The Governor has until September 30 to act on the measure.

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