Tucson City Council is cracking down on distracted driving Tuesday.
They'll vote on a new ordinance to ban all phone use unless it's hands-free. The council says this would You can only get pulled over for using your phone if police see you violating another traffic law first.
Right now, texting and driving is illegal in Tucson, but police say the law is difficult to enforce. The new ordinance would make using your phone for anything, including navigation, illegal unless it is mounted on a dashboard and connected to Bluetooth.
You cannot be ticketed if you're holding your phone to:
- Call for emergency help
- Call your doctor
- Activate or de-activate hands-free mode
- If you're pulled over on the side of the road
If the ban is approved, police can start handing out tickets as soon as May 1st.
The first ticket will cost you $50, but fines after that can cost you up to $200. The fine is immediately $250 if you cause an accident.
