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The Toughest Law Against Texting While Driving Took Effect in Utah


Posted on Sep 03, 2009

The toughest texting law in the country took effect on July 1, 2009.  In Utah, a person, who was distracted by texting, can be imprisoned for up to 15 years, if the texting distraction caused a crash in which someone was injured or killed.

The law is a result of an accident that occurred on September 22, 2006 in Utah. Reggie Shaw, 19, was texting his girlfriend when his SUV crossed over into the other lane and hit a car carrying James Furaro and Keith O'Dell, two rocket scientists. Their car spun out of control and was struck by another pickup truck hauling a trailer. Both scientists were instantly killed.

At first, the investigating officer Bart Rindlisbacher could not identify the cause of the crash, since Shaw denied doing anything out of the ordinary. However, based on a witness's statement that Shaw's car was swerving on the road before the accident and Shaw texting immediately after the crash, a subpoena for Shaw's phone records was issued. The records showed that Shaw had sent 11 text messages in 30 minutes before the crash - the last message was sent at 6.47am, which was a minute before Shaw called 911. 

The investigators could not charge Shaw with negligent homicide, since they had to show that he knew or should have known of the dangers of texting on the road. But after Terryl Warner, a victims' advocate, argued that the dangers were broadly known to the public, Shaw was charged with negligent homicide. After facing the two victims' families in court in November of 2008, Shaw decided to plead guilty. He was given a 30-day sentence in jail and 200 hours of community service. In February of 2009, Shaw appeared before the Utah Legislature and after his sincere testimony about his experience and the real dangers of texting while driving, the anti-texting law was passed in Utah. 

Because of this tragedy, currently, in Utah the penalty for texting behind the wheel is up to 3 months in jail and a $750 fine. If the violation causes injury or death, a texter faces a felony charge that carries up to 15 years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

For more information, please see:

Bad News For Floridians on the Road; Texting and Celling Behind The Wheel Remains Legal
Common Driving Distractions
Don't Let Them Longhorns Outshine Us - Here is What You Can Do 
Texting While Driving... It Should Be Illegal in Florida 

Texting While Driving May Soon Be Illegal in Florida

 

 

 

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