CINCINNATI -- Distracted driving is about to become a costlier offense on Ohio roads. Effective Monday, new regulations and penalties went into effect pertaining to what constitutes "distracted driving." House Bill 95 broadened the description of driving distracted beyond using telecommunications or other hand-held electronic devices while driving. Officers now can cite drivers observed to be engaged in any "activity that is not necessary for the vehicle's operation and that impairs, or reasonably would be expected to impair, the driver's ability to drive safely," according to the legislation. The bill does not define the terms "necessary" or "impair." Local AAA representative Jenifer Moore said the new law means things like eating while driving or changing the radio station -- if linked to a crash -- could add distracted driving to charges against the driver. "Distracted driving is not only using your cell phone," Moore told WCPO. "It's also if you are driving trying to put on makeup, or trying to eat, picking up coffee, playing with the radio station, navigation of the GPS -- all of that can be labeled as distracted driving. So what we want is that motorists take their eyes off of those activities and keep them on the road." The Ohio General Assembly passed HB 95 in July. The new law also increases the fine for distracted driving by an additional $100. Roselawn resident Donte Woods wonders if the new law will have much of an impact. "I don't see it having much effect," he said. "It's only a moment's glance that you see someone on the phone. Being able to use police for that, I don't know that that's going to be effective." Another law that took effect Monday broadens the scope of Ohio's Move Over law, which requires drivers to change lanes when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights, when it is safe to do so. Senate Bill 127 -- approved in June -- expands that law to include trash and recycling collection trucks. According to AAA crash data, 21,000 Ohio crashes in 2017 involved a driver who authorities deemed to be "distracted."<doc-sep>COLUMBUS - Local law enforcement is hoping a new law will curb distracted driving. House Bill 95 took effect on Monday and is expected to punish distracted drivers with increased fines. Lieutenant Brent Meredith of the Fremont post of the Ohio Highway Patrol said that, aside from the fines, he hopes the law will educate people on the dangers of distracted driving. Under the bill, drivers could be fined up to $100 in addition to any other fines accrued if they plead guilty to a moving violation caused by distracted driving. In lieu of paying the additional distracted driving fine, motorists can take an online course on distracted driving by visiting drivertraining.ohio.gov. "I'm hopeful the bill will cut down on serious crashes, but it's like drinking and driving — it will always be an issue." Meredith said drivers know they should not use their phones when they drive, but for some people, "they can't help it." Under the new law, law enforcement will no longer need evidence that a motorist was sending or receiving text messages to cite them for distracted driving. "Before, we had to prove they were either sending or receiving a text if they got out of their lane to prove distracted driving," Meredith said. "Now just seeing the glow from the phone and the car leaving the lane is enough proof that they were distracted." Because of the new Ohio law, Meredith believes there will be an increase in the number of distracted driving citations. The bill, introduced in February 2017, was passed by the Ohio House of Representatives in June 2017, and by the Ohio Senate in June 2018. Sponsored by Representatives Jim Hughes, R-Columbus, and William Seitz, R-Cincinnati, the bill was passed by Rep. Bill Reineke, R-Tiffin, who represents Sandusky County as part of the 88th District, and by Sen. Dave Burke, a Republican who represents Sandusky, Seneca, Crawford, Wyandot, Marion, Morrow and Union counties. cshoup@gannett.com 419-334-1035 Twitter: @CraigShoupNH<doc-sep>
Traffic & Transit New Distracted Driving Law In Effect In Ohio, Fines Increased Police will no longer need to prove a driver was texting to issue a distracted driving violation. Reply House Bill 95 went into effect on Monday. The new law makes it easier for law enforcement to ticket motorists for distracted driving, and also increases penalties for those found in violation of the law. "Our legislative goal is to encourage Ohio drivers to be cautious when driving and to think of their safety before anything else," Representative Jim Hughes, a Republican from Upper Arlington, said when the bill first passed the Ohio House in 2017. "No text message or phone call is worth losing your life or harming someone else." A year later and the legislation, with bipartisan support, has made its way through the Ohio House and Ohio Senate and is now in effect. The text of the law can be found by clicking here. The law effectively enhances the state's existing moving violations for drivers. That means law enforcement will no longer need to prove a driver was texting at the time of an accident or violation. Instead, they merely need to prove the driver was "distracted" at the time of the violation. Penalties for violating the new law are also steep. Drivers may need to pay a fine or complete a distracted driver course, designed for motorists that commit specific violations while distracted, the Ohio BMV said. "For example, a driver operating a vehicle outside marked lanes who is also engaging in a distracted behavior, will face an enhanced fine of up to $100 in addition to a fine for the lane violation. Other violations such as red light, stop sign, speeding, and other moving violations similarly would result in potentially higher fines," the BMV said in a press release. Information on the new distracted driver course can be found by clicking here.