Ticketing began Friday, March 1, 2013 on a state law that orders young drivers to put down their cellphones.
The regulation prohibits 16- and 17-year-old motorists from using any mobile communications device. That means no chatting on a cellphone while in the driver’s seat. No texting or emailing or scrolling on an iPad, either . . . even if it is while sitting at a red light, according to the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
The statute also makes it illegal for adult drivers to read, write and send text messages. State legislators approved the ban last summer after lengthy deliberation. Enforcement follows a six-month warning period.
Texting while driving is classified as a secondary offense for adults. That means adults can only be ticketed for it after being pulled over for another traffic violation, such as speeding or running a red light. (The state’s seatbelt law works the same way.) A ticket for the minor misdemeanor could result in a fine of up to $150.
The rule book is tougher on the youngsters. The state made the law a primary offense for drivers under the age of 18, meaning they can be stopped by law enforcement officers if seen using a prohibited electronic device. (There are exclusions for emergency situations.)
These first-time violators can lose their license for 60 days and be fined $150. Get caught again and the suspension extends to one year and the fine hits $300.
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