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Washington State enacted one of the nation's toughest distracted driving laws after legislators passed a bill outlawing nearly every conceivable form of attention-diverting behavior behind the wheel. 

Multiple accidents caused by electronics prompted action by the state of Washington. NBC Nightly News reported on July 19, 2017 that two Washington residents were stopped in traffic on I-78 when another driver slammed into them at 76 miles per hour killing both of the women instantly. An investigation revealed that the husband of the other driver had taken a selfie seconds before the crash. 

The Driving Under the Influence of Electronics (DUIE) Act was passed by the Washington state legislature. Governor Jay Inslee accelerated the implementation and enforcement date to July 23, 2017. The law forbids virtually all use of hand-held gadgets such as phones, tablets, laptop computers and gaming devices while driving. The new bill forbids hand-held uses, including composing or reading any kind of message, picture or data. Photography while driving is illegal. Drivers also cannot use hand-held devices while at a stop sign or red-light signal. 

The standard traffic fine of $136 applies to a first offense but increases to about $235 for a second offense. The first distracted driving offense would also be reportable to insurance companies, which could raise rates like any other moving violation, says USNews.com. 

In 2007, Washington was the first state to ban texting while driving. 10 years later, 46 states and the District of Columbia have passed bans. Novice drivers are banned from cellphone use in 32 states and at least 14 states have banned the use of any hand-held phones while driving, according to The National Review. 

Florida legislators pushing for distracted driving to become a primary offense 

It took a 4-year battle for texting while driving to become illegal in Florida. It did so in 2013 but is only a secondary offense. That means the driver has to be pulled over for something else, such as speeding, driving recklessly or running a stop sign. Talking on a cell phone is not prohibited. According to the state department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were almost 50,000 crashes involving distracted driving in Florida, in 2016, which is more than five crashes every hour. State Representative Emily Slosberg is trying to build support for a new law to make texting while driving a primary offense. 

“Distracted driving accidents are preventable. The devastation caused when a driver takes his/her eyes off the road is terrible. When driving, nothing is more important than being alert for the ever-changing dynamics on our roads. We encourage everyone, whether or not Florida legislation becomes more strict, to refrain from being distracted while driving,” said Fort Myers Wrongful Death Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. 

Fort Myers Wrongful Death Attorney,Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.