GOP-led Ohio House passes bill to crack down on texting while driving
Fox News
Ohio lawmakers are cracking down on distracted driving. A new bill was passed that will stiffen the penalties for texting while driving.
Ohio law currently prohibits texting while driving but allows drivers to hold their phones during a call and manually press buttons or screens to make those calls. The proposal would prohibit drivers from "using, holding, or physically supporting" such a device, with some exceptions, such as if they are stopped at a red light, using a speakerphone function without holding the phone, or holding a phone to their ears for a call but not using texting or typing functions.
Violations would become a primary offense rather than a secondary offense, meaning a police officer could issue a ticket for that violation without needing another reason to stop a driver.