There are 19 states in the U.S. whose laws ban motorists from texting while driving. North Carolina is now one of them.

Most people are aware that texting while operating a motor vehicle is dangerous. Studies have shown that using a cell phone while driving is the number one source of driver distraction on the road. The reaction time for drivers using a cell phone is considered to be the same as having a blood alcohol level of .08 percent, which is the legal limit. Drivers distracted by cell phones are 4 times more likely to get into car accidents that are serious enough to cause injury to themselves or others.

For these and other reasons, on June 19th, 2009, the new bill banning motorists from texting while driving was signed into law. This law went into effect on December 1, 2009. Violation of this law will result in a $100 fine plus court costs. There will be no points added to your driving record as a result of violating this law.

The details of this new law specify that texting while driving includes manually typing into your cellular device or reading texts or emails on your cellular device. Exceptions are given to those whose car is lawfully parked or stopped, a law enforcement officer on duty, a member of a fire department on duty, or the driver of a public or private ambulance on duty. Using GPS systems are not in violation of this law, nor are devices with voice operated technology.

The bill can be viewed in full here.

A shorter version of cell phone laws and other laws pertaining to motorists in North Carolina can be found here.

If you have been issued a citation for texting while driving, we'd like to help. Please contact attorney Dominique Williams to discuss your legal options.