The New Statewide Texting and Driving Law is Confusing Some Texans

By THC Staff | October 16, 2017

 

Texans have known since June that a statewide ban on texting while driving would go into effect at the beginning of September 2017, but when Hurricane Harvey blew through, many people forgot about this Texas law.

Now, KHOU writes that many Texans are perplexed about what the texting ban entails, and how it’s so difficult to enforce. Basically, drivers can not text unless they are using hands-free speech t0 text. But they can still check driving directions, make or receive calls, and change their music using their phone.

Lt. Kevin Duggan with Houston Police Traffic Enforcement Division told the news, “The texting, sending, receiving, composing – that’s what they’re trying to get away from. It is a challenge, but once again, if we physically see somebody texting, or they admit to texting, that is the reason for the stop.”

Click2Houston.com wrote that the law is “…full of loopholes,” but lawmakers like Rep. Gene Wu say it’s better than not having anything in place. The law states that those using their phone to text during an emergency are exempt, but it doesn’t specify what an “emergency” is. “I think it’s a step forward, (but) I think it could have gone a lot further,” Houston personal injury attorney Jeff Seely said.