Starting Friday, if you’re driving, keep your hands off your cell phone and keep the left lane for passing. That’s because handling your cell phone while driving and driving below the speed limit in the left lane of a highway are now illegal in Louisiana. These are two of dozens of new state laws that went into effect Aug. 1.
The cell phone ban is something that AAA Louisiana has been pushing for for a while. Don Redman with AAA said while it’s already illegal to be texting while driving in Louisiana, that law was unenforceable, and people were doing many other crazy things with their phones.
“You’re seeing people who are FaceTiming, they’re shooting videos, they’re attending video conferences, they’re even shopping while they’re driving on the phone,” said Redman
Under the new law, police will not pull you over just for handling your cell phone while driving – in most instances.
“It is a secondary offense,” said Redman. “For many of us, that means you need to have caused another traffic infraction first.”
That would lead to up to $100 tacked onto your fine for the moving violation you were pulled over for. Redman said it’s a primary offense in school zones and active work zones, meaning a driver could be pulled over just for holding their phone in those areas. These offenses come with fines of up to $250.
Motorists travelling below the speed limit in the left lane on a highway are now also subject to be pulled over. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau’s legislation changes the previous law that set the minimum at ten mph below the speed limit. He said his goal was to give law enforcement more discretion to clear out left lane hogs.
“If you’re going the speed limit or under, you’re blocking the lane and you could move over and there’s no reason not to be in the right lane, then you could get ticketed,” said Luneau.
Luneau’s bill was approved in this year’s legislative session with overwhelming support in both the House and Senate. The longtime legislator said the law will reduce accidents and road rage.
“Almost all of these automobile accidents are high-speed accidents that produce great damage to the vehicles and injury to the people,” said Luneau.
The law also raises fines. The first offense could result in a $150 ticket, second offense a $250 ticket and third offense, $350. Three or more offenses in a year could result in jail time.
