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Texting while driving is banned in Pima County

Posted at 1:23 PM, Jul 18, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-18 20:41:42-04

Texting while driving is officially banned in Pima County. 

Drivers caught looking down at their phone while driving will be fined a $100 ticket, or $250 if drivers cause an accident. 

However, this ordinance is not enforced when vehicles come to a complete stop.

"I understand the urge to grab it and you are just going to hurt yourself or someone else," explained Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos. "Pull over, go through them all and then get moving."

One bicyclist told us she survived being hit 12 times by a distracted driver.

"They don't even look, they are oblivious to what is going on around them," said Gina Marconi. "You don't see me riding my bike talking on the phone and texting, and running into your car."

Over the last three years in Tucson, there have been more than 300,000 driving citations. Of that number, over 100 of those were from texting while driving.

In May, theordinance was passed unanimously by the Pima County Board of Supervisors.