Currents
June 2019
By: Martin Zevin, P.A.
New Florida Laws For 2019
Several new laws have passed the Florida Legis-
lature and will be signed into law for 2019 by Gover-
nor DeSantis. Texting while driving has now become
a primary offense. This means that police can stop a
driver just for texting. Florida follows 43 other states
that have laws prohibiting texting
while driving. The law includes a
grace period requiring police to
issue warnings only through the
end of 2019. Beginning in 2020,
a first violation will result in a
$30.00 fine plus Court costs
which would bring the total up to
over $100.00. A subsequent vio-
lation committed within five years
will result in a $60.00 fine plus
Court costs. The legislation also
includes a requirement that police
track the race of people who are
stopped for texting while driv-
ing. The Senate bill required a
stricter law that would have pro-
hibited drivers from holding their
phone while driving; however, the
House would not pass that ver-
sion. The compromise bill which
did pass requires that cell phones
must be used in hands-free mode
in school zones and in construc-
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