New Ohio law targets distracted driving by penalizing cellphone use

By Zack Frink

Aiming to diminish the number of distracted driving incidents and associated deaths, Ohio has introduced a new law permitting law enforcement officers to stop drivers who appear to be using their cellphones while on the road, reports the Dayton Daily News.

Setting the Scene: Law enforcement officers can now stop Ohio drivers who engage in prohibited activities such as texting, making a phone call, or operating a phone while driving.

• For the initial six months, officers will hand out written warnings for such violations, and further penalties will be applied for recurring offenses.

The Fine Print: Ohio Senate Bill 288 imposes a $150 fine and adds two points to the driver's record for the first offense.

• Penalties become more severe for subsequent violations.

What We’re Hearing: Although the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio has raised concerns about a potential rise in profiling, local law enforcement agencies stress that they do not condone such behavior.

• To address possible issues, the ethnicity of the drivers receiving citations will be submitted to the Ohio Attorney General's Office each year.

Why It Matters: The new law aims to improve driver safety and decrease preventable accidents, as over 62,000 distracted driving crashes and 1,800 severe and fatal injuries have been documented since 2018.