Tickets for inattentive driving to begin December 3rd

Reported by: Sharon Phillips

Email: sphillips@fox23.com

Updated: 12/02/2011 9:19 am

Published: 12/01/2011 3:26 pm

Distracted drivers will be getting extra attention from Tulsa Police.

Soon, it will be easier for officers to slap you with a $150 ticket. Effective December 3rd, Tulsa Police will legally be able to issue you a ticket for inattentive driving.

Before, you had to be in a crash before they could issue you a citation.

Officer Brandon Smith is gearing up for a big change to his work load. "It will give us one more thing to pull cars over for,” says Smith.

A new amendment to the city of Tulsa traffic code will allow him and other officers to pull over any driver they believe is not paying attention.

Here’s what they will be looking for:

“Texting and a lot of people going to work in the morning and putting on makeup, a lot of people with I-phones checking their email and stuff like that,” says Smith.

We set out with Brandon to see just how many people we could spot in 30 minutes. We found 22 people in half an hour who could technically be cited for inattentive driving. Many were talking on their cell phones, texting and even eating and not paying attention to the road.

“Prior to this, we could only write a citation in the event of a collision or something like,” says Officer Jason Willingham.

We caught up with driver Emily Bush on Brookside about to have lunch with a friend. While her baby slept in the car seat, we told her about the ordinance change.

“Well, it's definitely going to be hard to break that habit. Texting and driving are not very safe, but talking on the phone is so second nature to me that I don't even think about it,” Bush says.

Driver Alli Graham says she’s guilty too. "I use it a lot, and I use it to listen to my music and I will text, but I try to do it when I'm at a stoplight,” says Graham.

We want to be clear that you can still talk on your phone while you drive, but if an officer thinks you aren’t paying attention to the road, you can be pulled over and ticketed.

Police say it’s just best to use a hand’s-free device if possible.

This change in the traffic code was put into place to be consistent with the recent change in state law.

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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of KOKI FOX23 - Tulsa

zzcop - 12/3/2011 2:25 AM

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truckhounddog - 12/2/2011 2:27 PM 0 Votes Report User taking a turn 2 fast and not paying attetion is what makes the load shift including livestock -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. TruckHoundog, You posted this on another story..... You speak from both sides of your mouth. Truckers not paying attention? That's probably why you get no respect from police officers in return!

zzcop - 12/3/2011 2:10 AM

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Vague? I don't think so. Anyone with a high school diploma should be able to figure this out. Oklahoma does not ban all drivers from using a cell phone or text messaging. In 2010, however, Oklahoma passed a law prohibiting distracted driving. The law, House Bill 2276, doesn't specifically mention cell phones or text messaging. It addresses distracted driving as follows: "The operator of every vehicle, while driving, shall devote their full time and attention to such driving." "No law enforcement officer shall issue a citation under this section unless the law enforcement officer observes that the operator of the vehicle is involved in an accident or observes the operator of the vehicle driving in such a manner that poses an articulable danger to other persons on the roadway that is not otherwise specified in statute." In other words, a driver will not be pulled over and ticketed for text messaging or using a cell phone unless the officer observes that the driver is posing a safety threat to others. Oklahoma Public Transit Drivers May Not Text Message While Driving In 2010, Oklahoma passed House Bill 2957, which prohibit public transit drivers -- including school bus drivers -- from reading, writing, or sending text messages while driving. Teen Drivers May Not Use Cell Phones Oklahoma drivers who hold a learner's permit or an intermediate Class D license may have their license or permit suspended or cancelled for using a handheld electronic device while operating a vehicle. This includes cell phones and electronic devices used to make or receive phone calls, play or store media (including music and video), or send or read a text message, if doing so requires the use of at least one hand.

zzcop - 12/3/2011 2:00 AM

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Mr. GatorBull S. and Mr. Hounddog Man: What makes you think that I'm a policeman? My handle? Please grow up! I'm not sworn to protect anything. Are you just assuming? So please back off yourself. CB's much the same as cell phones are generally used to talk and bs on during long hauls. Yes they can help stranded motorist , contact help, but really, do you ever see anyone pull to the side of the road to use them? No! This can cause distractions. Highway Saftey Council has provided information as of 2009 that people are more than 9 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than a drunk driver while texting or using a cell phone or other electronic device including GPS. This was a news report....I didn't see anything that stated exactly what the law states. Is the law posted somewhere so that we may read it? How soon we forget the deadly crash on I-44 last year by a trucker who was believed to be distracted while driving his several ton missile down the road. Mr. Gatorbull I'm merely a citizen stating an opinion and don't express my rage on "law abiding" citizens.

GatorBull - 12/2/2011 3:34 PM

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This is a VAGUE law, yes. It is obvious to me that this was authored in this manner to avoid targeting cell phones. There are also the occasional motorists putting on make-up and even nodding off that this will apply to. This is a great law…it will no doubt save many lives. Truckhounddog and zzcop obviously need to get an education and grow up. Zzcop, truckers use CB radios for many reasons. Are they abused?...sure. Do they perform a service to fellow motorists...definitely! Back off zzcop...don't forget your charge is to "protect and serve"...not take your rage out on law abiding citizens that are vulnerable to your interpretation of the law. Truckhounddog....grow up...if you are not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to be worried about. I haven't been pulled over nor ticketed for over 20 years and there is a good reason for that....I obey the law.

truckhounddog - 12/2/2011 2:45 PM

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go figure a person with a screen name zzcop would say something to that affect and yes we do use them (cb radio)to find out where an accident is or what lane we need to be in if there is one since you cops dont know how to direct traffic unless theres a doughnut or coffee shop near by and i cant remember how many times i have seen a cop let a car pass a semi doing 70 in a 65 mph zone and pull a semi over because he was doing 68 in a 65 because the cop knows he can write the semi drive a bigger fine one of the reasons why i have no respect for a cop

golfguy - 12/2/2011 1:01 PM

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About time something was done about the idiots who text, read books and papers, put on makeup, etc. Women especially seem to think that driving a car automatically includes talking on the phone.

zzcop - 12/2/2011 6:38 AM

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Well it's about time. Truckers and CB radios calling for hazards? BS! Just on the watch for police because your going too fast or overloaded. Inattentive drivers are nine times more likely to kill someone than a drunk driver. It's time drivers pulled their heads out and quit playing with their techno gizmos and drive.

apple0113 - 12/2/2011 2:28 AM

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I totally agree with "truckhounddog" there are numerous people who use cb radios, officers, city workers, firemen, paramedics, contractors, truck drivers, etc....so are they now going to get tickets for talking to dispatch???!!! And what about these officers that you see daily on thier cell phones talking/texting, will they be getting tickets?? doubtful!

Concerned - 12/1/2011 9:51 PM

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Can we please form some sort of group/committee to overturn this amendment? This is the most rediculous thing I have heard! Can we not just pass a law making it clear that texting/talking on the phone while driving is illegal, not this "in attentive driving" crap? They must over rule this!

truckhounddog - 12/1/2011 8:41 PM

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as a truck driver i use a c.b to comunicate with other drivers of possible hazards in and on the road so now if i use this device i can get a ticket .... what a load of horse pucky tulsa cant handle the gangs or the murders drugs etc what makes them think they (police) can handle this so as a citizen i will use my right to give an officer a ticket if i see him take a drink while he is driving or talking to dispacth while driving or his wife or kids turn about is fair play

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