Yesterday, the Cincinnati City Council voted 8-1 to ban texting while driving throughout the city. The ordinance prohibits the sending, reading, and writing of text messages while driving. Violators will face a $100 fine for the misdemeanor offense.
The law, which will take effect in 30 days, does not ban drivers from talking on their cell phone. Entering information into a GPS device is also allowed as long as the driver has stopped the vehicle and removed it from the traffic flow.
Several other Ohio cities, including Toledo, Columbus, and Cleveland, have already passed similar ordinances. Currently, the state legislature is debating a statewide ban of texting while driving. If it passes, Ohio would join 30 other states and the District of Columbia in banning texting while driving.
In the past few years, there has been a serious effort across the nation to crack down on texting while driving. Several studies have conclusively indicated that this action poses a significant distraction to drivers and greatly increases the risk of a car accident.
If you have been injured in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your damages. An experienced car accident attorney can advise you on the best way to proceed with your case.
If you have an auto accident claim in the Northern Kentucky area, please contact the law offices of Greta Hoffman today to schedule your initial consultation.
