Gail from Beaumont asks: Thanks to you and Port Arthur News for this weekly article. Officer Antoine, either I’m confused about the texting while driving law, or seems hardly anyone on the road seems to be paying attention. I’m constantly observing drivers are texting and driving, not obeying the texting and driving law. Officer Antoine, everywhere I go, I see people still with their phones in their hands while on the roadways. I thought Texas was now a hands-free cell phone zone! Officer Antoine, could you please tell me the fine for texting while driving, could you explain the laws regarding texting while driving in Texas?

Answer: Good question, Gail! I agree with you! It doesn’t really seem much has changed since the passing of the Texas Texting while Driving Law in 2017. Cellphones are still being used because the law says they can do everything else not relating to communicating via texting. This law has been presented in Texas four times before it finally passed in 2017. In my opinion, this law is simply a bandaid on a serious gunshot wound. It doesn’t have much for law enforcement officers to work with. It only addresses reading, writing or sending electronic messages, but any other functions on cellphones are permitted. This is why we need this law stricter because Gail, in 2014, 3,179 people in the U.S. were killed in crashes involving distracted drivers, and an additional 431,000 were injured. In 2016, there were 109,658 traffic crashes in Texas alone that involved distracted driving, leading to over 3,000 serious injuries and at least 455 fatalities. Gail, the sobering truth is texting while driving makes a car accident 23-34 times more likely to occur. Here are the cellphone laws in Texas: (1) Drivers cannot send or receive electronic messages in Texas. (2) Drivers with learner’s permits are prohibited from using handheld cell phones in the first six months of driving. (3) Drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using wireless communications devices. (4) School bus operators are prohibited from using cell phones while driving if children are present. (5) In school zones, all drivers are prohibited from texting and using handheld devices while driving. Also, many municipalities have enacted their ordinance to combat the dangerous act of texting while driving. The fine for texting while driving is $25 up to $99.

 

 

Juan from Port Arthur asks: Officer Antoine, I recently took a tinted license plate off the front of my vehicle. The back plate did not have a tinted license plate cover. My question is: Are tinted license plate covers illegal, or did I overreact by removing my plate? I’m one who strives to be a difference on our roads of Port Arthur! Thanks for all your help to the community.

Answer: Good question, Juan. Thanks for being a part of the solution for safe driving in Port Arthur and Southeast Texas. Juan, you were correct in removing the tinted license plate cover because in Texas, tinted license plate covers should not be placed on any vehicles that are on the roadways of Texas. You can purchase clear license plate covers and legally install them on vehicles, but one that is tinted that may distort the lettering and numbers on the license plate and is difficult to read should be avoided. Tinted license plate covers are illegal!

 

Join Officer Antoine for Ask A Cop Live, on KSAP 96.9 FM, “The Breeze” radio station, every Tuesday from 1-2 p.m. Tune in and listen as Officer Antoine discusses in detail the newly released Ask A Cop article that printed in The News. You can also tune in via internet at www.ksapthebreeze.org. Feel free to call in and ask your question live to Officer Antoine at 409-982-0247.