Understanding Florida's New Texting and Driving Law

BRADENTON – Now that a bill championed by Florida Senator Nancy Detert (R-Venice)  was signed into law by Governor Rick Scott, texting while driving will be prohibited in Florida beginning Oct. 1 of this year. The law prohibits drivers from using cell phones to text or email while operating a vehicle – with some exceptions. 

Drivers can use their phones for GPS, weather and music. Talk-to-text devices like the iPhone's Siri are also kosher. As a secondary offense, police officers cannot pull a driver over if they see or suspect them of texting, but only cite them for it when pulled over for a different offense, and they cannot compel drivers to turn over their phone to see whether they've been texting.

The ban carries a first-time fine of $30. Florida is now the 41st state to have implemented some sort of ban on texting while driving.