September 21, 2011
By: Carrie Van Brunt-Wiley
Some Alabama auto insurance policyholders could be in for higher premiums, as the Montgomery Policy Department says many people have been cited for distracted driving in the past 11 months.
According to the Montgomery Advertiser, since the city council passed an ordinance banning drivers from being able to use their cellphones while driving, more than 270 people have been cited. However, the only way motorists can be handed a ticket for violating the ordinance is if they also commit a primary offense, such as running a stop light.
"We have to know that the person commits a traffic violation first and then at the same time we have to see that the person is actually distracted by using a cell phone or texting or reading an email," said Keith Barnett, Montgomery's traffic division commander, in an interview with the newspaper.
Tracy Larkin, a city councilman who sponsored the ordinance when it was passed, said he expects distracted driving will be upgraded to a primary offense at some point.
Nine states prohibit all drivers from using handheld cellphones and 34 ban text messaging behind the wheel, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
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