It is a very risky practice to text while driving. A driver’s attention is diverted away from the road in front of them whenever they use a mobile device. As a result, they lose awareness of their surroundings and put down the steering wheel to do something else. It’s clear that all of these actions are exceedingly risky and could lead to a serious disaster with devastating consequences. Accident victims in Ohio who were wounded by a distracted driver can consult a local lawyer who handles car accidents in Toledo for guidance.

Texting While Driving in Ohio Under Current Law

More than a dozen states prohibit talking on a cell phone while driving, but nearly all of them outlaw texting while behind the wheel. Underage drivers in Ohio are not permitted to use any form of an electronic wireless communications device while operating a motor vehicle. This includes sending and receiving texts and making phone calls.

This implies that police officers can only pull over drivers for more serious offenses, such as speeding if they have reasonable suspicion that the driver is also texting while driving. A police officer may issue a secondary charge of texting while driving if they have stopped a driver for another violation.

When it comes to secondary offenses, texting while driving has a relatively light penalty. In addition to the costs incurred for the principal infraction, drivers will be required to pay a fine of $100. In addition to paying the fee, motorists have the option of taking a course on distracted driving.

It’s Proposed That We Pass A New Law

In May of 2021, lawmakers in Ohio began considering a new bill that would severely restrict texting while operating a motor vehicle within the state. If a driver is stopped for holding a cell phone and no other traffic violation is being committed, the law allows the stop. There has been a rise in accidents due to drivers texting while behind the wheel, so a new regulation has been passed to prevent this. If the bill were to become law, it would outlaw not only texting and driving but also using a mobile device to watch or record videos, place orders, or use any other application that is not considered hands-free while behind the wheel.

As of this writing, the penalty for a first-time infraction is a $150 fine. To avoid incurring fine, first-time offenders still have the option, as they did under the previous law, to take a course on distracted driving safety.