Arizona Bilingual News

The Best Of Two Worlds

PIMA COUNTY TEXTING-WHILE-DRIVING LEGISLATION.

Pima County Board of Supervisors approved the texting while driving law. Joining Coconino County, Phoenix, and Flagstaff in Arizona.
This Legislation prohibits drivers from any use hand-held Communications device wild driving. Phone calls are allowed. Fines start from $100, $250 and up if a crash or accident result, if you injure someone you could go to prison.

The Sheriff Chris Nanos, gave some words of understanding of this new law, to Arizona bilingual audience and the general public.
“I’m not a fan of “more laws”, but it has gotten to a point where the public’s safety had to be considered. For ten years or more traffic fatalities had been on the decline. However, last year there was an increase.

We took a look at other distracted driving laws around the State before drafting our law. We went back and forth with our own legal team before finalizing our proposed ordinance. It was a process that took 3 to 4 months before we got what we wanted…and it’s still not “perfect”; however, it’s a start.

We’ve all heard from the critics about the inability to enforce such a law…and to some extent…they are correct. However, I’m not interested in writing a bunch of tickets, I’m interested in keeping our motoring public, pedestrians, and cycling community safe. Do we need to be able to enforce law…absolutely, but we need to remember the purpose behind the law is public safety.
I liken this to the advent of our first laws pertaining to seat belts? Initially, there was a lot of resistance, yet today there is 95% compliance. That compliance didn’t come just because there was some hefty fine and cops writing a bunch of tickets…it came because people now realize seat belts save life’s. I think it’s hard to argue this won’t do the same…save life’s…and isn’t that what it’s all about?

Words of the Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos. “Arizona bilingual always supporting the welfare and safety of our community.

Share this: