You may no longer use your cell phone while driving in Allentown, PA. A new law comes into effect at the end of the month, which will ban the use of cell phones while driving.
The law comes into effect on Friday and may have a hefty fine for anyone caught talking on their cell phone while behind the wheel. Fines could be as high as $300.
And the law doesn't just apply to talking on a phone. Even people who are caught texting or browsing the web could be cited under this new law. The law will not be implemented harshly, at least not for a few weeks, although drivers caught texting, surfing or talking will receive a warning. The warning will include information and advice on using hands-free devices. According to a spokesperson from the city, the city's first priority is to inform citizens, prior to penalizing them.
This law was passed despite the fact that Pennsylvania vehicle code states that such laws must be uniform throughout the state. Because the law is unique to Allentown, one implementation issue for officers is how they plan to deal with motorists from out of the area. Officers will be required to use discretion in issuing citations under this law.
This new Allentown law may set a precedence for other Pennsylvania towns and cities to follow. As a result, Pennsylvania DUI attorneys would need to familiarize themselves with the new distracted driving laws, as they may soon begin contesting a significantly large amount of "distracted driving" tickets.
Related Resources
- Distracted Driving Lawsuit Blames Cell Phone Companies (FindLaw's Injured)
- Study Says Distracted Driving Laws Ineffective (The Chicago DUI Law Blog)
- Stages of a DUI Case (FindLaw)
- Find Pennsylvania DUI Attorneys (FindLaw Directory)
