Pennsylvania – In a significant move towards enhancing road safety, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed a new bill into law on June 5, 2024, prohibiting handheld devices while driving. The legislation, known as Paul Miller’s Law, aims to curb distracted driving and reduce accidents caused by drivers using their phones while behind the wheel.
Named after Paul Miller Jr., a 21-year-old man from Scranton who was tragically killed in 2010 by a distracted driver, the law makes it illegal for motorists to hold a handheld device while operating a vehicle. This includes making calls, texting, emailing, using the internet, or sending or receiving electronic data. However, the law allows using hands-free methods such as Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, or Android Auto.
Eileen Miller, Paul Miller Jr.’s mother, has strongly advocated the law, fighting for its passage for over 12 years. She expressed relief and determination at the signing ceremony, saying, “I got it done, Paul. I did it.” She hopes that the law will prevent other families from experiencing the pain and loss that her family has endured.
The new law will take effect immediately, but there will be a one-year grace period during which violators will only receive warnings. After that, drivers caught using handheld devices while driving will face a $50 fine. The law also requires local and state law enforcement to collect data on the race, ethnicity, gender, and age of drivers during traffic stops to ensure that the law is enforced without bias.
Pennsylvania is now the 29th state in the nation to enact such a law, joining the majority of states that have banned motorists from handling a cell phone for almost any purpose while driving. The state had previously banned texting while driving in 2012, but this new law takes it further by prohibiting handheld devices altogether.
Governor Shapiro emphasized the importance of the law in making Pennsylvania’s roads safer, saying, “This is for every family that is in Pennsylvania that doesn’t have to have two state troopers knocking on their door to tell them that their loved one was killed by something so preventable as distracted driving.”
The passage of Paul Miller’s Law is a significant step towards reducing distracted driving and improving road safety in Pennsylvania. The state hopes to prevent accidents and save lives on its roads by prohibiting handheld devices while driving.
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