As of Tuesday, texting while driving is illegal in Vermont.
Vermont governor, Jim Douglas, signed the law allowing the ban on June 1st at Montpelier High School, making his state the 25th to have such legislation.
In addition to a ban on texting while behind the wheel, the new law also bars 16- and 17-year-old drivers from using cell phones or other electronic devices AT ALL, when they’re driving.
Governor Douglas said that texting causes a dramatic reduction in a driver’s reaction time, and that when someone is moving at 65 mph, a driver’s eyes are removed from the road for 500 feet per message.
Under the new measure, anyone caught reading or sending text messages while operating a motor vehicle will be slapped with a $100 fine for the first offense, and $250 for each subsequent offense within a two-year period.
Source: Reuters