Wa Driving Laws Mobile Phones

Washington was the first state in the country to draft a texting and driving law in 2008. Since then, however, laws have changed again – legislation passed in 2017 made the rules even stricter in order to further reduce distracted injuries and driving deaths. In Western Australia, laws have been updated from September 2020 to reflect the growing risk that mobile phone use poses to drivers and pedestrians on our roads. WN Legal is your experienced team of Perth Criminal Defence Lawyers. We are ready to help you with expert legal advice tailored to your situation and offering the best possible outcome. Western Australia`s mobile phone driving law can be difficult to navigate, especially since it`s a new law. It is therefore important that your rights are protected. More than 150 law enforcement agencies across Washington State are participating in this awareness campaign. WTSC spreads information about distracted driving throughout the state through media and social media to educate drivers about the effects of distracted driving. of serious accidents in Washington are due to distracted driving.

Washington State Police are looking for distracted drivers who violate texting and cell phone laws. “Distracted drivers” are drivers who pay attention to other things while driving, such as talking on a cell phone, texting or changing radio stations. According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, distracted driving crashes accounted for at least 20 percent of all road fatalities in King County from 2008 to 2012, with 86 people killed and 338 others seriously injured. There are many ways to distract drivers, but the risks associated with mobile phone use are significant. Studies have shown that people who text while driving are 23% more likely to fall than non-distracted drivers. These laws were introduced after a Washington State study found that one in ten drivers held a device in their hands while driving, and just over 70 percent of distracted drivers were busy with their phones. Drivers were distracted in crashes that killed 3,179 people in 2014, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). No – if you touch your phone, the same penalty applies whether you are driving a moving vehicle or your vehicle is stationary (but not parked), such as at traffic lights. Under the new law, a driver who uses a personal electronic device while operating a motor vehicle on a highway is guilty of a traffic offence and must pay a fine. The fine starts at $136; However, for a second or subsequent offence under this Act, a driver will be liable to a fine of $272.

Because of the change in the law, it is important that drivers who receive a traffic ticket when using a personal electronic device or a ticket for a crime, including dangerous distracted driving, consult a lawyer who may be able to help them keep the driving record clean. Under current law, non-commercial drivers will not report a cell phone or SMS breach to insurance companies. However, once the new law comes into force in July, the current mobile phone and SMS laws, RCW 46.61.667 and RCW 46.61.668, the more relaxed laws on mobile phones and SMS will be repealed. Violations of cell phone and text phone laws result in a $124 fine for a first offence. This could be much higher if you are involved in a collision. It is illegal for Washington drivers to use cell phones while driving. This includes all electronic devices, including tablets, laptops, and video games. Tickets for driving with portable electronic devices will be included in your file and reported to your insurance company.

In 2020, authorities increased penalties for illegal use of mobile phones while driving under the revised 2000 Highway Traffic Act. As a result, penalties have been increased to $500 and 3 demerit points during the holiday season and to 6 demerit points during the designated holiday season. Perhaps the biggest change is that the new law prohibits “dangerously distracted driving.” Parliament created a secondary offence of distracted driving and an additional fine for this ancillary offence, for which a ticket can only be issued if an official has already decided to stop you for another primary offence. Distracted driving can include eating, putting on makeup, holding hands in a vehicle, and an endless number of other actions. Subsection 265(2) of the Regulations still provides that a person may not use a cell phone while driving a moving or stationary vehicle that is not parked. Both things are considered “driving” and you will face the same penalty if you do one of these things. Washington drivers can only use cell phones with the following exceptions: (Please note: These exceptions do not apply to drivers with an instruction license or intermediate license) The same laws apply to anyone who drives a bicycle or motorcycle. The penalties are also the same, except for cyclists, who cannot accumulate demerit points for offences related to the use of mobile phones. It is illegal. If you touch your device while driving to start, stop or change your navigation, even if it is secured in a stand, you will receive a fine of $ 1000 and 4 demerit points.

For example, if you`re driving on the highway at 60 km/h, staring at your phone for just 2 seconds means you`re driving blindly for more than 33 meters. A lot can happen in 2 seconds – and from 33 meters away, in an ever-changing traffic situation – just checking a lyrics or changing a song can be a recipe for disaster. Mobile phones, road activities, children sitting in the back seat, adjusting vehicle or radio settings or a snack can distract a driver from their most important task – driving safely. Yes, there is a double disadvantage for the new penalties. This means that during a double period of incapacity, you can lose up to 8 demerit points at a time if you use your phone while driving. 1) An increased penalty for anyone caught holding or touching their cell phone to make an audio call if the phone is not secured in a phone holder. Yes, it is possible to use the navigation function of your phone. However, you cannot touch, change or change the route while driving. This includes touching the phone at the beginning or end of the trip. You can use maps or other means of navigation on your phone, as this is considered a “driving aid”.

However, the phone must be mounted in a holder attached to your vehicle and you cannot press anything on your phone or touch your phone in any way. You should have your navigation set up before you start driving your vehicle. Personal electronic devices include a wide range of products, not all of which are listed in the law, but at least personal electronic devices include tablets, phones, and laptops. You can use your phone for calls while driving, as long as you don`t touch your phone in any way – even if you have it on your lap, it`s illegal. You need to mount it on the vehicle and control the entire call via hands-free or Bluetooth. GPS can be used by a driver while driving when there is no need to touch the keyboard or screen. Yes, you can still listen to music, but there is no way you can touch your phone. You should have selected your music before you leave, or use the control buttons on your steering wheel to change songs. The new offences involving the use (including possession) of a personal electronic device while driving and the new offence of distracted driving will most likely become part of a driver`s record if the Licensing Department takes further regulatory action.

While repealed cell phone and SMS laws prohibit the disclosure of this information to insurance companies, the new law lifts the ban. As a result, lawmakers will allow insurance companies and employers to see more traffic violations, while insurance companies will be able to assess risks and raise insurance premiums for drivers who don`t comply with those laws. Violations of the new law, such as a ticket, now affect a driver`s right to drive. Previously, Regulation 265(2) of the 2000 Highway Code stipulated that “the driver of a vehicle shall not use a mobile phone when a vehicle is moving or standing but not parked”.