The City of Parkland is on the verge of becoming the first in the Sunshine State to tell text-loving phone drones to put down their cell and keep their eyes on the road.
The Parkland City Commission gave approval to the ban yesterday but it still faces a final vote, which could happen in the next week or so. If approved, a quick “wink” to a friend while behind the wheel could cost up to $100 in fines.
While most are taking the ban in stride, phone companies have been steadily lobbying against the ban, according to the Sun-Sentinel.
But the numbers don't lie: A recent study by the Virginia Transportation Institute found that texting while driving is 23 times more likely to cause an accident.
Seventeen states throughout the country have already banned texting and Parkland's measure follows last week’s resolution by Miami-Dade Commissioners who want to outlaw texting in school zones.
Parkland Mayor Michael Udine told the Sun-Sentinel the approval of the ban “sends a good message,” though only while stationary in a designated parking zone, we hope.
One exemption in the ban is for working firemen or policemen, who will be allowed to "lol" their colleagues while on-duty.
