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A DRIVER has admitted that hands-free road laws slip her mind when driving but it’s too late by the time she notices a major reminder.
Michigan implemented a hands-free driving regulation about a year ago and law enforcement in the state is learning that some old habits aren’t easy to shake.
No matter a driver’s excuse, local law enforcement is serious about cracking down on drivers who use their phones behind the wheel[/caption]
When the cell phone law went into effect, it was with the goal of keeping drivers from putting themselves and others in danger.
A year later, many residents are still being caught using their phones behind the wheel, local NBC affiliate WILX reported.
A Lansing, Michigan driver was issued a ticket for violating Michigan’s hands-free driving law while one of WILX’s reporters rode along with the Ingham County Sheriff to see how bad it is out there for herself.
“I totally forgot even that there was a law,” Brigitte Brown said about being caught on her cellular while behind the wheel.
“Until I saw the cop, and it registered, it was like ‘Oh, no!’ and as soon as I saw him I knew I was in trouble.”
Despite her memory lapse, Brown got a $235 ticket for breaking the hands-free law.
The resident explained that she was on a call to expedite her passport when she was spotted by law enforcement.
“I looked in my rear view mirror, and I thought, boy that looks like a cop behind me and so I just tried to ease my phone off my ear,” she said.
“As soon as I did that, the sirens went on, and he pulled me over.”
No matter a driver’s excuse, the sheriff is serious about cracking down on drivers who use their phones behind the wheel.
Ingham County Sheriff Scott Wriggelsworth said he sees it every day.
He took the news team to ride along with him while patroling in his unmarked car.
“We just have simply seen way too many fall back into those bad habits,” he stressed.
What defines distracted driving?
Michigan's Department of Transportation, among other states, defines distracted driving as:
- Making a voice or video call while behind the wheel
- Sending or reading a text or email
- Recording, watching, or sending videos
- Scrolling or posting to social media platforms
- Browsing the internet
- Checking or using GPS or other navigation systems
- “Texting is the most alarming distraction because it involves three types of distraction: Visual, manual, and cognitive,” read Michigan’s webpage for the hands-free law.
- Visual distraction is physically taking eyes off the road, while manual is defined as taking a driver’s hands off of the steering wheel. Cognitive means a driver has taken their mind off of the drive.
Source: Michigan’s Safety Programs Site
“And we’re just trying to continually educate people, this is not about writing tickets, it’s about safer roads.”
He added that officers do have discretion and can decide if they don’t want to ticket a driver.
The officer made his first traffic stop within the first 15 minutes of being on the road.
“Do you know why I’m stopping you,” he asked the car owner.
“No,” the driver answered.
“I do not.”
The sheriff said: “You had a phone in your hand.”
