Minnesota Senator David Osmek (R-Mound) and Representative Bob Dettmer were joined by family members of distracted driving victims to introduce a bill to that aims at reducing distracted driving across the state.
The biggest change pitched under the new bill would affect how the crime is punished if it results in injury. Under the new proposal, the penalty for injuring or killing someone while illegally using a cell phone behind the wheel would be the same as if the person was driving under the influence.
“Distracted driving is is responsible for 30% of fatalities or serious injuries on Minnesota’s roads. Those engaging in risky behavior need to know there are serious consequences to their actions,” said Sen. Osmek. “By increasing the penalties to DUI level, we are giving law enforcement another tool to raise awareness of this issue, and providing justice for victims of distracted driving.”
More Changes Proposed
Increased penalties for drivers who injure someone while texting behind the wheel weren’t the only changes proposed on Monday by Sen. Osmek and Rep. Dettmer. Two other changes listed in the proposal include:
- Requiring driver’s education classes to provide more instruction on the dangers of distracted driving.
- The potential loss of your cell phone after the third or subsequent violation.
The proposal also noted that cell phones could still be used behind the wheel if it’s in hands-free mode.
“Distracted driving fatalities are continually on the rise,” said Representative Frank Hornstein. “Minnesotans deserve to be safe on our roadways. Requiring ‘Hands-free’ mode will deliver common sense safety measures to combat these preventable tragedies.”
Distracted driving has been on the rise in Minnesota over the last few years. From 2013-2017, distracted or inattentive driving has resulted in an average of 53 deaths and 216 serious injuries each year. The Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety Department of Traffic Safety Office believes these numbers are under-reported due to law enforcement’s inability to determine exactly what happened during every crash.
Don’t drive distracted, but if you do, we can help you fight the ticket. Call us at (952) 244-2277.
