Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschDecember 24, 2017

Florida isn’t a “hands free” state but insurers say that’s no reason to take your eyes off the road, especially while travelling over the holidays. In one of the most sobering auto crash fatality statistics releases in 50 years, the National Safety Council estimated that as many as 40,000 people died in auto accidents across […]

Ana CeballosDecember 6, 2017

The push to make texting while driving a primary offense under state law has gained a powerful advocate: House Speaker Richard Corcoran. “The data is overwhelming and the need to act is equally compelling,” Corcoran said in a statement. State Rep. Jackie Toledo on Wednesday filed legislation that would strengthen the ban on texting and […]

Drew WilsonOctober 24, 2017

The Senate Committee on Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Tuesday approved a bill by Gainesville Republican Sen. Keith Perry that would institute a statewide ban on texting while driving, but not before they and members of the public labelled it as merely the first step toward a hands-free Florida. SB 90 and its House counterpart, […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 25, 2017

Jacksonville City Council President Anna Brosche doesn’t line up with Councilmen John Crescimbeni and Tommy Hazouri on many issues. Evidence of that was provided this week, with Brosche rejecting their call for a public workshop on dredging the St. Johns River. While they may not see eye to eye on one of the biggest environmental and economic issues […]

Drew WilsonApril 23, 2017

Florida is the 20th most distracted state according to a nationwide driver safety study released by driver safety company Zendrive Monday. The study took in data from 3.1 million drivers over 5.6 million miles of driving and found that nationwide drivers spent an average of 3.5 minute an hour using their phone or other device. […]

Jim RosicaApril 3, 2017

The Legislature can’t create an exception for Palm Beach County to make texting while driving in a school zone a primary offense there, Attorney General Pam Bondi‘s office said in a recent letter. The answer came in response to a question from state Rep. Emily Slosberg, a Boca Raton Democrat elected last year. The informal legal opinion letter, […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 20, 2017

Florida lawmakers will probably not make texting while driving a primary traffic offense in 2017, although it is the law in 41 other states. Right now, Florida doesn’t allow officers to pull over drivers for texting and driving unless they notice another potentially dangerous or deadly offense at the same time. In an interview with […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterDecember 21, 2016

Rep. Emily Slosberg is following in her father’s footsteps, and that might not be a good thing. Slosberg, a Boca Raton Democrat, appears to already be at odds with members of the Palm Beach County legislative delegation after a kerfuffle during the recent delegation meeting. At issue: Local bills that would have allowed Palm Beach […]

Ryan RaySeptember 23, 2015

Sen. Thad Altman filed a bill on Tuesday that would allow Florida law enforcement to pull drivers over solely for texting while driving. Under current law officers may only cite drivers for doing so as a secondary offense, not warranting a traffic stop on its own. State statute 316.305 provides that enforcement of the state’s texting-while-driving prohibition “must […]

Tag: texting while driving
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 3/4/25-Gov. Ron DeSantis talks with the media after giving the State of the State speech on the opening day of the 2025 Legislative Session, Tuesday at the Capitol in Tallahassee. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO

Keep your eyes on the road during holiday travels, insurers say

House Speaker backs stricter texting-while-driving proposal

Senate panel says texting ban isn’t enough, but at least it’s something

Unlikely allies converge on Jax City Council against ‘texting while driving’

Florida comes in at No. 20 in distracted driving study

Pam Bondi’s office to Emily Slosberg: Local government can’t outlaw texting while driving

WTSP exposé examines Florida’s ‘weakest in nation’ texting, driving laws

Emily Slosberg at odds with Palm Beach legislative delegation over local texting while driving bills

Thad Altman seeking stricter rules on texting while driving