Texting ban kicks in July 1

COEUR d’ALENE — Starting in July, texting while driving will be more than dangerous, it will be illegal and costly, too.

However, some Kootenai County law enforcement officials spot some potential difficulties as they look toward enforcement.

Maj. Ben Wolfinger of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department said, “I have read the bill and think that it is a good idea.”

However, he added, “It will be very difficult to enforce since we won’t be able to tell if someone is texting or dialing while driving.”

Dialing is allowed, he said.

Capt. Curtis Kastens with Idaho State Police said, “We will enforce it to the best of our ability.”

“Whatever the law is that they’re told to enforce, that’s what we’ll do,” said Coeur d’Alene Police Department Sgt. Christie Wood.

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter signed legislation this month making texting while driving an infraction and making Idaho the 37th state to enact a texting-while-driving ban.

The new law will receive primary enforcement, meaning police can stop and cite offenders for that violation alone, the Idaho Transportation Department said in a press release last week.

Kastens said, “Common sense and crash statistics prove that limiting distractions while driving will make the roads safer for the motoring public.”

He said enforcement of the law will be no different than any other law on the books.

The law bans the use of smartphones and other hand-held devices to manually review, prepare or send written communications while operating a motor vehicle.

The offense is not considered a moving violation. Also, there are no points assessed against the driver’s license.

Violators can expect to pay $85 if caught by a law enforcement officer.

The state already had misdemeanor penalties for inattentive driving, but until now, no specific law banning texting while driving.

“Most people know that texting and driving is a lethal combination,” said Lisa Losness with the Idaho Transportation Department’s highway safety office. “But, there are still drivers who need this law to remind them to never make this dangerous decision.”

Inattention or distraction is a leading cause of motor vehicle crashes in Idaho, responsible for about one out of every five of the state’s motor-vehicle crashes, the department announced in a press release last week.

Wood said Coeur d’Alene’s officers should be as successful enforcing the texting law as any other coming from the Idaho Legislature.

She said there have not been discussions about doing emphasis patrols for the distracted driving as are done for seat belts.