DAUPHIN COUNTY, PA. — Do not answer that phone!
That’s what police officers like LuAnna Brook are telling people who drive.
Brook said, “In 2022, there were over 3,300 deaths linked to distracted driving, and those are the only ones that were reported as distracted driving.”
Officer Brook has worked for the Lower Paxton Township Police Department for over 20 years.
She has seen for herself how portable technology has made it harder for drivers to focus.
In May 2024, Senate Bill 37 was passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to help stop people from driving while busy.
It will be against the law to drive and use a smartphone or other smart device that can send quick messages.
Brook said, “For one year, we will write written warnings for any violations. Then, in January 2026, people will start getting tickets for these violations.”
People who are caught using a handheld device will have to pay a $50 fine when the rule starts to run in a year.
The bill says that over the next few months, police will get training materials on how to successfully spot drivers who aren’t paying attention.
“People with phones in their hands doing something is what we want to see, and we have a few ways to do that.” “It looks like we’ll be taking care of the details,” Brook said.
How can people drive without getting pulled over?
One thing someone told me today that I think would help people who can’t use their car’s features is to put their phone on sound and put it in their visor, Brook said.
Drivers can also check to see if their phone can connect to their car via a wire or Bluetooth. These days, most cars are designed so that drivers can use their phones without using their hands.
People can buy things like phone mounts to escape getting pulled over if their car doesn’t work with a handheld device.
There will still be a button on drivers’ phones that they can use to answer or end calls.
