In Florida, there are no laws banning distracted driving but did you know you could still get in serious trouble if you cause an accident? Law enforcement officers are more frequently seeking cell phone records to determine if talking or texting contributed to crashes.
When a fatality or serious injuries are involved, drivers found to be using their cell phone could face a stronger charge in court.
In one case in Sarasota, a driver hit and killed a man after running a red light. Police later determined that driver was talking on his phone at the time of the crash.
And the state attorney's office filed a vehicular-homicide charge against that driver, noting the use of the phone was reckless and warranted a felony charge. The case is still pending.
Critics argue that one should not be charged to a further extent against something that is not even a traffic violation, noting that Florida needs to ban distracted driving just as it does speeding.
First Coast News wants to encourage you to be safe when behind the wheel. You can sign our pledge, The Great First Coast Hang Up.