STEPHEN BUCKNER, Reveille Radio News Reporter:
More than 600 new Louisiana laws went into effect on August 15. One of the most notable laws was Act 665, an amendment to the previously passed Senate Bill No. 137 from 2008.
The new law states that no person shall operate any motor vehicle upon any public road or highway of this state while using a wireless telecommunications device to write, send or read a text-based communication.
However, a person shall not be in violation of the law if they are to read, select or enter a telephone number or name in a wireless device for the purpose of making a telephone call.
Mass Communications sophomore Taylor Smith sees the new law as a good move by the state legislature.
TAYLOR SMITH (Mass Communications sophomore): It seems like a good idea to me since texting while driving is very unsafe. It seems like it will help people to stop texting.
BUCKNER: History sophomore John Starns shared a similar viewpoint.
JOHN STARNS (History sophomore): Well I think if not now, I think eventually it would be a necessary measure.
Chemical Engineering sophomore Jordy Allen is not in favor of the new law.
JORDY ALLEN (Chemical Engineering sophomore): Well I think that it’s kind of evasive of the government to try to step into our lives and try to take something like that. I mean it’s another safety issue, but how much can they really take over? They’re probably trying to, uh, you know get a little more power that way. It’s a little bit easier to get money from us for their funding and everything like that.
BUCKNER: Even Smith who is for the law has admitted to texting while driving behind the wheel.
SMITH: I did until I thought about how dangerous it really is and I actually learned more about and it’s really terrible.
BUCKNER: Starns is one of the many individuals to have been involved in an accident or to know someone else who has been injured.
STARNS: I don’t really text while I drive, it’s not… so it doesn’t really affect me. But I have known people in my community who have gotten into serious accidents likely because they were texting while they were driving. So I think that if it prevents accidents and injuries and deaths, then it can be a worthwhile thing.
BUCKNER: I spoke with Sergeant Blake Tabor to learn how the LSU Police Department plans on enforcing the new state law. Tabor said that if a student is seen with a phone in their hand and pushing buttons while their vehicle is motion then that will give them probable cause to pull the individual over.
According to research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 6 thousand people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver and more than half a million were injured.
This has been Stephen Buckner, Reveille Radio News.