Florida warns drivers: Cell phone use behind the wheel means fines and license points

Florida drivers face fines and points on their licenses for using cell phones behind the wheel, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (Flhsmv) announced. The agency is intensifying its campaign to combat distracted driving, emphasizing the dangers it poses to motorists and pedestrians.

The Flhsmv's "Put Down the Wheel: Focus on the Road" campaign aims to educate drivers about the risks associated with using wireless devices while operating a vehicle. "Distracted driving is anything that causes you to take your hands off the wheel, your eyes off the road, or your mind off your driving," the agency stated in a release.

Using a cell phone wirelessly while driving is considered a form of distracted driving. According to Lopes Law Offices, penalties in Florida can include significant fines and the deduction of three points from a driver's license. Accumulating too many points can lead to license suspension: 12 points in 12 months result in a 30-day suspension, 18 points in 18 months lead to a three-month suspension, and 24 points in 36 months result in a one-year suspension. These points remain on a driver's record for at least five years.

Florida law has strengthened measures against distracted driving. In 2019, texting while driving shifted from a secondary to a primary offense, allowing law enforcement to stop a vehicle solely for this violation. The Flhsmv stresses that while texting is dangerous, other common distractions include attending to children or passengers, eating, adjusting the radio, or using GPS applications. Distracted driving, defined as when a driver's hands, eyes, or mind are diverted from the task of driving, significantly increases the likelihood of accidents, particularly among teenagers who have high rates of injury or death.

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Distracted driving is anything that causes you to take your hands off the wheel, your eyes off the road, or your mind off your driving.