Florida 2024 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H1469 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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10	10	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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14	14	A bill to be entitled 1
15	15	An act relating to hands -free driving; amending s. 2
16	16	316.305, F.S.; revising a short title; providing 3
17	17	definitions; prohibiting a person from operating a 4
18	18	motor vehicle while using a wireless communications 5
19	19	device in a handheld manner; providing an exception; 6
20	20	requiring sustained use of a wireless communications 7
21	21	device by a person operating a motor vehicle to be 8
22	22	conducted through a hands -free accessory until such 9
23	23	use is terminated; removing obsolete provisions; 10
24	24	providing penalties; amending s. 316.306, F.S.; 11
25	25	conforming provisions to changes made by the act; 12
26	26	providing an effective date. 13
27	27	14
28	28	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 15
29	29	16
30	30	Section 1. Section 316.305, Florida Statutes, is amended 17
31	31	to read: 18
32	32	316.305 Wireless communications devices; use in a handheld 19
33	33	manner prohibited prohibition.— 20
34	34	(1) This section may be cited as the " Anthony Branca and 21
35	35	Anita Neal Act Florida Ban on Texting While D riving Law." 22
36	36	(2) It is the intent of the Legislature to: 23
37	37	(a) Improve roadway safety for all vehicle operators, 24
38	38	vehicle passengers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and other road 25
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47	47	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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49	49
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51	51	users. 26
52	52	(b) Prevent crashes related to the use of a wireless 27
53	53	communications device in a handheld manner act of text messaging 28
54	54	while driving a motor vehicle. 29
55	55	(c) Reduce injuries, deaths, property damage, health care 30
56	56	costs, health insurance rates, and automobile insurance rates 31
57	57	related to motor vehicle crashes. 32
58	58	(d) Authorize law enf orcement officers to stop motor 33
59	59	vehicles and issue citations to persons who are using wireless 34
60	60	communications devices in a handheld manner texting while 35
61	61	driving. 36
62	62	(3) As used in this section, the term: 37
63	63	(a) "Handheld manner" means holding a wireless 38
64	64	communications device in one or both hands or physically 39
65	65	supporting the device with any other part of the body. 40
66	66	(b) "Hands-free accessory" means an attachment to or 41
67	67	built-in feature of a wireless communications device which 42
68	68	allows the operator of a motor veh icle to engage in 43
69	69	interpersonal communication or otherwise use such device other 44
70	70	than in a handheld manner. 45
71	71	(c) "Wireless communications device" means a handheld 46
72	72	device used or capable of being used in a handheld manner to: 47
73	73	1. Transmit or receive a voi ce message; initiate, receive, 48
74	74	or maintain a telephone call; or otherwise engage in 49
75	75	interpersonal voice communication; 50
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84	84	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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88	88	2. Receive or transmit text -based or character-based 51
89	89	messages or otherwise engage in interpersonal nonvoice 52
90	90	communication; 53
91	91	3. Record or display videos or images; 54
92	92	4. Enter, access, or store data; or 55
93	93	5. Connect to the Internet or any communications service 56
94	94	as defined in s. 812.15(1). 57
95	95	58
96	96	The term includes, but is not limited to, a cellular telephone, 59
97	97	smartphone, tablet computer, laptop computer, two-way messaging 60
98	98	device, electronic gaming device, or device capable of 61
99	99	displaying videos or images. The term does not include a 62
100	100	citizens band radio, citizens band radio hybrid, commercial two -63
101	101	way radio communication device or its functional equ ivalent, 64
102	102	subscription-based emergency communications device, prescribed 65
103	103	medical device, amateur or ham radio device, or in -vehicle 66
104	104	security, navigation, communications, or remote diagnostics 67
105	105	system. 68
106	106	(4)(3)(a) A person may not operate a motor vehicle whil e 69
107	107	using manually typing or entering multiple letters, numbers, 70
108	108	symbols, or other characters into a wireless communications 71
109	109	device in a handheld manner except to activate, deactivate, 72
110	110	initiate, or terminate a feature or function of the device, 73
111	111	including a hands-free accessory. Sustained use of a wireless 74
112	112	communications device by a person operating a motor vehicle must 75
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121	121	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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125	125	be conducted through a hands -free accessory until such use is 76
126	126	terminated. or while sending or reading data on such a device 77
127	127	for the purpose of nonvoice interpersonal communication, 78
128	128	including, but not limited to, communication methods known as 79
129	129	texting, e-mailing, and instant messaging. As used in this 80
130	130	section, the term "wireless communications device" means any 81
131	131	handheld device used or capable of being used in a handheld 82
132	132	manner, that is designed or intended to receive or transmit text 83
133	133	or character-based messages, access or store data, or connect to 84
134	134	the Internet or any communications service as defined in s. 85
135	135	812.15 and that allows text communication s. For the purposes of 86
136	136	this paragraph, A motor vehicle that is stationary is not being 87
137	137	operated and is not subject to the prohibition in this 88
138	138	paragraph. 89
139	139	(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to a motor vehicle 90
140	140	operator who is: 91
141	141	1. Performing official duties as an operator of an 92
142	142	authorized emergency vehicle as defined in s. 322.01, a law 93
143	143	enforcement or fire service professional, or an emergency 94
144	144	medical services professional. 95
145	145	2. Reporting an emergency or criminal or suspicious 96
146	146	activity to law enforcement auth orities. 97
147	147	3. Receiving messages that are: 98
148	148	a. Related to the operation or navigation of the motor 99
149	149	vehicle; 100
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158	158	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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162	162	b. Safety-related information, including emergency, 101
163	163	traffic, or weather alerts; 102
164	164	c. Data used primarily by the motor vehicle; or 103
165	165	d. Radio broadcasts. 104
166	166	4. Using a device or system for navigation purposes. 105
167	167	5. Conducting wireless interpersonal communication that 106
168	168	does not require manual entry of multiple letters, numbers, or 107
169	169	symbols, except to activate, deactivate, or initiate a feature 108
170	170	or function. 109
171	171	6. Conducting wireless interpersonal communication that 110
172	172	does not require reading text messages, except to activate, 111
173	173	deactivate, or initiate a feature or function. 112
174	174	5.7. Operating an autonomous vehicle, as defined in s. 113
175	175	316.003(3), with the automated driving system engaged. 114
176	176	(c) A law enforcement officer who stops a motor vehicle 115
177	177	for a violation of paragraph (a) must inform the motor vehicle 116
178	178	operator of his or her right to decline a search of his or her 117
179	179	wireless communications device and may not: 118
180	180	1. Access the wireless communications device without a 119
181	181	warrant. 120
182	182	2. Confiscate the wireless communications device while 121
183	183	awaiting issuance of a warrant to access such device. 122
184	184	3. Obtain consent from the motor vehicle operator to 123
185	185	search his or her wireless communications device through 124
186	186	coercion or other improper method. Consent to search a motor 125
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195	195	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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199	199	vehicle operator's wireless communications device must be 126
200	200	voluntary and unequivocal. 127
201	201	(d) Only in the event of a crash resulting in death or 128
202	202	personal injury, a user 's billing records for a wireless 129
203	203	communications device or the testimony of or written statements 130
204	204	from appropriate authorities receiving such messages may be 131
205	205	admissible as evidence in any proceeding to determine whether a 132
206	206	violation of paragraph (a) has bee n committed. 133
207	207	(5)(4)(a) A Any person who violates paragraph (4)(a) 134
208	208	(3)(a) commits a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a 135
209	209	nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318. 136
210	210	(b) A Any person who commits a second or subsequent 137
211	211	violation of paragrap h (4)(a) (3)(a) within 5 years after the 138
212	212	date of a prior conviction for a violation of paragraph (4)(a) 139
213	213	(3)(a) commits a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a 140
214	214	moving violation as provided in chapter 318. 141
215	215	(6)(5) When a law enforcement officer issues a citation 142
216	216	for a violation of this section, the law enforcement officer 143
217	217	must record the race and ethnicity of the violator. All law 144
218	218	enforcement agencies must maintain such information and report 145
219	219	the information to th e department by April 1 annually in a form 146
220	220	and manner determined by the department. Beginning July 1, 2023, 147
221	221	the department shall annually report the data collected under 148
222	222	this subsection to the Governor, the President of the Senate, 149
223	223	and the Speaker of the H ouse of Representatives. The data 150
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232	232	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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234	234
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236	236	collected must be reported at least by statewide totals for 151
237	237	local law enforcement agencies, state law enforcement agencies, 152
238	238	and state university law enforcement agencies. The statewide 153
239	239	total for local law enforcement agenc ies shall combine the data 154
240	240	for the county sheriffs and the municipal law enforcement 155
241	241	agencies. 156
242	242	Section 2. Section 316.306, Florida Statutes, is amended 157
243	243	to read: 158
244	244	316.306 School and work zones; penalties for prohibition 159
245	245	on the use of a wireless communi cations device in a handheld 160
246	246	manner.— 161
247	247	(1) For purposes of this section, the term "wireless 162
248	248	communications device" has the same meaning as provided in s. 163
249	249	316.305(3)(a). The term includes, but is not limited to, a cell 164
250	250	phone, a tablet, a laptop, a two -way messaging device, or an 165
251	251	electronic game that is used or capable of being used in a 166
252	252	handheld manner. The term does not include a safety, security, 167
253	253	or convenience feature built into a motor vehicle which does not 168
254	254	require the use of a handheld device. 169
255	255	(2) It is the intent of the Legislature to: 170
256	256	(a) Improve roadway safety in school and work zones for 171
257	257	all vehicle operators, vehicle passengers, bicyclists, 172
258	258	pedestrians, and other road users. 173
259	259	(b) Prevent crashes related to the act of driving while 174
260	260	using a wireless communications device in a handheld manner when 175
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269	269	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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271	271
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273	273	operating a motor vehicle while the vehicle is in motion. 176
274	274	(c) Reduce injuries, deaths, property damage, health care 177
275	275	costs, health insurance rates, and automobile i nsurance rates 178
276	276	related to motor vehicle crashes. 179
277	277	(d) Authorize law enforcement officers to stop motor 180
278	278	vehicles and issue citations to persons who are driving in 181
279	279	school or work zones while using a wireless communications 182
280	280	device in a handheld manner as pro vided in subsection (3). 183
281	281	(3)(a)1. A person may not operate a motor vehicle while 184
282	282	using a wireless communications device in a handheld manner in a 185
283	283	designated school crossing, school zone, or work zone area as 186
284	284	defined in s. 316.003(111). This subparagraph shall only be 187
285	285	applicable to work zone areas if construction personnel are 188
286	286	present or are operating equipment on the road or immediately 189
287	287	adjacent to the work zone area. For the purposes of this 190
288	288	paragraph, a motor vehicle that is stationary is not being 191
289	289	operated and is not subject to the prohibition in this 192
290	290	paragraph. 193
291	291	2. Effective January 1, 2020, a law enforcement officer 194
292	292	may stop motor vehicles and issue citations to persons who are 195
293	293	driving while using a wireless communications device in a 196
294	294	handheld manner in violation of subparagraph 1. 197
295	295	(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to a motor vehicle 198
296	296	operator who is: 199
297	297	1. Performing official duties as an operator of an 200
298	298
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306	306	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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308	308
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310	310	authorized emergency vehicle as defined in s. 322.01, a law 201
311	311	enforcement or fire service professiona l, or an emergency 202
312	312	medical services professional. 203
313	313	2. Reporting an emergency or criminal or suspicious 204
314	314	activity to law enforcement authorities. 205
315	315	3. Receiving messages that are: 206
316	316	a. Related to the operation or navigation of the motor 207
317	317	vehicle; 208
318	318	b. Safety-related information, including emergency, 209
319	319	traffic, or weather alerts; 210
320	320	c. Data used primarily by the motor vehicle; or 211
321	321	d. Radio broadcasts. 212
322	322	4. Using a device or system in a hands -free manner for 213
323	323	navigation purposes. 214
324	324	5. Using a wireless communicatio ns device hands-free or 215
325	325	hands-free in voice-operated mode, including, but not limited 216
326	326	to, a factory-installed or after-market Bluetooth device. 217
327	327	6. Operating an autonomous vehicle, as defined in s. 218
328	328	316.003, in autonomous mode. 219
329	329	(c) A law enforcement offi cer who stops a motor vehicle 220
330	330	for a violation of paragraph (a) must inform the motor vehicle 221
331	331	operator of his or her right to decline a search of his or her 222
332	332	wireless communications device and may not: 223
333	333	1. Access the wireless communications device without a 224
334	334	warrant. 225
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343	343	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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347	347	2. Confiscate the wireless communications device while 226
348	348	awaiting issuance of a warrant to access such device. 227
349	349	3. Obtain consent from the motor vehicle operator to 228
350	350	search his or her wireless communications device through 229
351	351	coercion or other impro per method. Consent to search a motor 230
352	352	vehicle operator's wireless communications device must be 231
353	353	voluntary and unequivocal. 232
354	354	(d) Only in the event of a crash resulting in death or 233
355	355	serious bodily injury, as defined in s. 316.027, may a user's 234
356	356	billing records for a wireless communications device, or the 235
357	357	testimony of or written statements from appropriate authorities 236
358	358	receiving such messages, be admissible as evidence in any 237
359	359	proceeding to determine whether a violation of subparagraph 238
360	360	(a)1. has been committed. 239
361	361	(e) Law enforcement officers must indicate the type of 240
362	362	wireless communications device in the comment section of the 241
363	363	uniform traffic citation. 242
364	364	(1)(4)(a) A Any person who violates s. 316.305(4)(a) in a 243
365	365	designated school crossing, in a school zone, or in a work zone 244
366	366	area as defined in s. 316.003, if construction personnel are 245
367	367	present or are operating equipment on the road or immediately 246
368	368	adjacent to the work zone area, this section commits a 247
369	369	noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving 248
370	370	violation, as provided in chapter 318, and shall have 3 points 249
371	371	assessed against his or her driver license as set forth in s. 250
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380	380	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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384	384	322.27(3)(d)7. 251
385	385	(a) For a first violation offense under this section , in 252
386	386	lieu of the penalty specified in s. 318.18 and the assessment of 253
387	387	points, a person who violates this section may elect to 254
388	388	participate in a wireless communications device driving safety 255
389	389	program approved by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor 256
390	390	Vehicles. Upon completion of such program, the penalty specified 257
391	391	in s. 318.18 and associated costs may be waived by the clerk of 258
392	392	the court and the assessment of points must be waived. 259
393	393	(b) The clerk of the court may dismiss a case and assess 260
394	394	court costs in accordance with s. 318.18(11)(a) for a nonmoving 261
395	395	traffic infraction for a pe rson who is cited for a first time 262
396	396	violation of this section if the person shows the clerk proof of 263
397	397	purchase of equipment that enables his or her personal wireless 264
398	398	communications device to be used in a hands -free manner. 265
399	399	(2)(5) Notwithstanding s. 318.21, all proceeds collected 266
400	400	pursuant to s. 318.18 for violations under of this section must 267
401	401	be remitted to the Department of Revenue for deposit into the 268
402	402	Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund of the Department of 269
403	403	Health. 270
404	404	(3)(6) When a law enforcement officer issues a citation 271
405	405	for a violation under of this section, the law enforcement 272
406	406	officer must: 273
407	407	(a) Indicate in the comment section of the uniform traffic 274
408	408	citation the type of wireless communications device that was 275
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417	417	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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421	421	used to commit the violation. 276
422	422	(b) Record the race and ethnicity of the violator. All law 277
423	423	enforcement agencies must maintain such information and must 278
424	424	report such information to the department in a form and manner 279
425	425	determined by the department. Beginning February 1, 2020, the 280
426	426	department shall annually report the data collected under this 281
427	427	paragraph subsection to the Governor, the President of the 282
428	428	Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The 283
429	429	data collected must be reported at least by statewide totals f or 284
430	430	local law enforcement agencies, state law enforcement agencies, 285
431	431	and state university law enforcement agencies. The statewide 286
432	432	total for local law enforcement agencies must combine the data 287
433	433	for the county sheriffs and the municipal law enforcement 288
434	434	agencies. 289
435	435	Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 290