Many drivers in Louisiana are still sending text messages and talking on their cell phones, despite laws passed earlier this year to curb the behavior.Nearly half of the drivers stopped by state troopers during a “speeder and hazardous violation detail” on Interstate 12 last Friday were distracted by cell phone use.Four state troopers issued 33 traffic citations to 27 drivers during the checkpoint on the eastbound lane of Interstate 12 between Sherwood Forest Boulevard and Millerville Road. The troopers focused their attention on drivers who were speeding, following too closely and improperly changing lanes.Of the 27 drivers stopped, 11 were using cell phones at the time of the violations.Louisiana law prohibits all drivers from text messaging while driving and limits the use of cell phones by novice drivers. The violstions are secondary offenses, meaning drivers will only be ticketed if they have been pulled over for a primary offense such as speeding or running red lights.Don Kelly, Baton Rouge Police Department spokesman, said the only way an officer can write a citation for a driver sending a text is if he actually witnessed the driver doing it, or if the driver admitted he or she was sending a text.One of the drivers ticketed nearly collided with a vehicle in front of her near Sherwood Forest Boulevard. When she was stopped by troopers, she had an open cell phone in her lap in text-message mode and received multiple texts while officers were interviewing her. She denied using the phone for text messages prior to her violation.Reagan Tucker, English senior, said she “almost killed herself” while sending texts on more than one occasion. “You look down at it, and it takes your mind off driving,” Tucker said. Tucker said her texting while driving has slowed, but not because of the new laws. Tucker said her new iPhone makes it much harder to “blindly text.” Lila Balamane, criminology senior, said she will look at a text while driving but avoids typing new messages.Balamane said sending a text while driving would be hard to prove because using GPS or even using the radio could be mistaken for sending text messages.Nationally, seven states have text messaging bans for all drivers. No states have completely banned all types of cell phone use, but many have prohibited cell phone use for certain segments of the population.Four separate cell phone and text messaging laws are in effect in Louisiana.Senate Bill 137, prohibits all drivers from text messaging and novice drivers that hold a Class “E” learner’s license from making calls while driving, unless they use a hands-free device.Under the law, drivers can be fined up to $175 for a first offense violation of the law and up to $500 for a second offense violation. If the violations occur during a traffic accident, the fines can be doubled.Senate Bills 159 and 342 prohibit drivers under the age of 17 and drivers who have had licenses for less than a year from using cell phones while driving. The law doesn’t apply to drivers who are first time Louisiana license holders but have held a driver’s license in another state.Fines are up to $100 for the first offense and up to $250 for the second offense. If an accident occurs, fines can be doubled.—-Contact Jack LeBlanc at [email protected]