New Texting & Cell Phone Laws Effective December 1

Durango, CO –   The Durango Police Department wants to remind drivers that Colorado lawmakers passed a new statute that becomes effective December 1^st, and bans all drivers from specific cell phone usage while driving. 

All drivers under the age of eighteen years are prohibited from using a wireless telephone for talking, listening, or texting while driving a motor vehicle.  Drivers over eighteen years are prohibited from using a wireless telephone for texting or other manual data entry or transmission while driving a motor vehicle.

Violations of this law is a class A traffic infraction and requires a mandatory $50 fine for the first offense and a mandatory $100 fine for subsequent offenses.  The only exception to this legislation is to contact public safety entities or during an emergency where the driver fears for his or her life, believes a crime is about to be committed, or to report a fire, traffic collision, serious road hazard, medical issue or a reckless driver. 

Texting or dialing a cell phone diverts a driver’s attention from the roadway.  AAA, long a supporter of road safety, cites a 2006 Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study that revealed drivers doubled their risk of crashing by diverting their eyes from the road for as little as two seconds. 

Please, drive safely.