About 130 drivers have been cited in Idaho for texting while driving since July, an offense created by the Idaho Legislature earlier this year to make the state’s roads safer.
The Coeur d’Alene Press reports that some drivers say the offense has caused them to think twice before picking up their handheld mobile devices while behind the wheel.
Of the 130 citations, 86 have been resolved with guilty findings. Many of the other citations’ outcomes are pending.
Sen. Jim Hammond, a northern Idaho Republican who carried the texting prohibition in the 2012 Legislature, says the tickets – and the second thoughts – show the law is working, as intended.
Idaho is among at least 35 states that ticket drivers for texting. An infraction costs $85, including court fees. (AP)
