Politics & Government

Distracted Driving Fines Going Up in Connecticut

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has signed into law higher fines for talking and texting while driving.

This article was written by Eileen McNamara.

If you get caught texting or talking on your cell phone while in your car, even at a stop light, you'll face much higher fines under new laws that go into effect later this year. 

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy recently approved the higher fines as part of an overall effort by the state to cut down on the number of distracted drivers, and distracted driving accidents, in Connecticut, according to a report in the Hartford Courant.

The new fines will go into effect Oct. 1 and will increase the penalty for using a cell phone in a car from $125 to $150 for the first offense, $250 to $300 for the second offense and $400 to $500 for the third offense. 

Anthony J. Salvatore, Cromwell's police chief and the co-chairman of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, told the Courant he anticipates aggressive enforcement of the new laws. 

"At no time is operating a motor vehicle and texting acceptable,'' Salvatore said.

The measures signed by Malloy also allow insurance companies to take distracted driving violations into account when setting customers' auto insurance rates, the Courant states. 


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