FL DNT TXT N DRV Coalition Applauds House Subcommittee for Advancing Legislation to Make Texting While Driving a Primary Offense

Tallahassee, Fla. – The FL DNT TXT N DRV Coalition, consisting of numerous law enforcement organizations, local governments, and Florida-based businesses and individuals, today applauded the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee for advancing HB 33, by Representatives Jackie Toledo (R-Tampa) and Emily Slosberg (D-Boca Raton), relating to texting while driving.

“On behalf of the FL DNT TXT N DRV Coalition, we want to thank the members of the committee for their favorable vote on this important legislation to move texting while driving from a secondary to primary offense,” said Keyna Cory, coordinator of the FL DNT TXT N DRV Coalition.  “Millions of Floridians want to stop people from texting while driving on our roads.  The legislation filed by Representatives Toledo and Slosberg will help law enforcement stop drivers who are texting while driving and issue the appropriate citation.”

“Too many drivers still text, talk, surf the web and use apps on smartphones while driving,” said Logan McFaddin, Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) regional manager.  “As a member of FL DNT TXT N DRV Coalition, PCI hears too many stories of families devastated from someone driving and texting.  The fact that Florida is one of many states experiencing double-digit spikes in distracted driving-related crashes and is only one of four states that hasn’t already made texting while driving a primary enforcement law is mind-boggling.  That’s why we’re asking Florida lawmakers to support HB 33 and make texting while driving a primary offense and save lives.”

HB 33 would strengthen the current ban on texting, emailing, and instant messaging while driving, by changing the current enforcement of the ban from secondary to primary.  HB 33 today passed its first committee of reference and is now ready to be taken up by the House Judiciary Committee.  

The FL DNT TXT N DRV Coalition includes Florida businesses, associations, law enforcement, local governments, trade and medical organizations as well as the AARP, AAA and the Florida PTA.  For more information about the FL DNT TXT N DRV Coalition, please visit FLDontTextandDrive.com.