Don’t even think about texting while you are driving!

 This is what you need to know. The Texting and Driving act repeals the current prohibitions against the operation of motor vehicles while using hand-held electronic wireless communications devices. The act created the “Siddens Bening Hands-Free Law,” which prohibits several uses of electronic communication devices while operating motor vehicles, as detailed in the act. Among other restrictions, operators of motor vehicles can no longer physically hold or support, with any part of their body, an electronic communication device; write, send, or read any text-based communication; or make a phone call without the use of the hands-free or voice-operated feature or function.

Law enforcement officers who stop a noncommercial motor vehicle for a violation of these provisions shall inform the operator of the operator’s right to decline a search of their device. No warrant shall be issued to confiscate or access an electronic communication device based on violating these provisions unless the violation results in serious injury or death.

Violations of these provisions shall not be used to establish probable cause for any other violation, and the provisions of the act shall be subject to racial bias reporting as required by law.

This act preempts local regulation of the use of electronic communication devices by the operators of vehicles.

Before January 1, 2025, a law enforcement officer who stops a noncommercial motor vehicle for violating these provisions shall not issue a citation for the violation and shall only issue a warning.

No person shall be stopped, inspected, or detained solely for a violation of these provisions.

(Courtesy of KY-3 News)