Texting While Driving
Using cell phones while driving is a common, although frowned upon, activity. When a driver chooses to text and drive, the danger to others on the road is immediately heightened. Someone who is texting is physically and mentally distracted from the driving task at hand, and may cause a serious accident resulting in injury and expense. In both Detroit and Michigan at large, texting while driving is illegal. Additionally, the ban on texting is considered a primary law. This means a police officer can pull you over specifically for witnessing you texting and does not need to see another traffic violation take place.
In 2023, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed into law a bill making it illegal to manually use a cell phone or other mobile electronic device while operating a vehicle on Michigan roads. Under the law, a driver cannot hold or support a phone or other device with any part of their hands, arms, or shoulders.
Even if a cell phone or other device is mounted on your dashboard or connected to your vehicle’s built-in system, you cannot use your hands to operate it beyond a single touch.
Penalties for Texting
In Detroit, anti-texting laws have been enforced to ban all drivers from texting while driving. Penalties that you can receive for texting while driving include:
First Violation – $100 fine and/or 16 hours of community service
Second or Subsequent Violations – $250 fine and/or 24 hours of community service
Three Violations Within Three Year Period – Complete a driving improvement course
Fines Doubled – If a crash occurs and the at fault driver was holding or manually using a mobile device while operating the vehicle, any civil fines will be doubled.
Texting and driving can put you and others at great risk for a serious accident. When an accident occurs due to the negligence of one driver, that driver could be held financially accountable for the injured party’s damages.
Contact Our Detroit Personal Injury Lawyers for Help
If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident caused by someone else who was texting while driving, you should not have to pay for any damages sustained. Our Detroit personal injury lawyers at Ravid & Associates, P.C., are dedicated to holding irresponsible drivers accountable. Call our offices at (248) 948-9696 today to begin discussing your case with a knowledgeable member of our legal team.