Tulsa Texting Accident Attorney Jeff Martin Comments On Proposed Law To Ban Texting While Driving In Oklahoma
Tulsa, OK (PRWEB) April 12, 2014 -- A legislative bill to ban texting while driving in Oklahoma introduced by a state politician recently cleared a legal hurdle and will be voted on by the full House of Representatives in Oklahoma, according to KOCO.com News. Tulsa personal injury attorney Jeff Martin of the Law Offices of Jeff Martin understands that passage of a ban on texting while driving would be an important step toward making the roads safer for everyone in Oklahoma.
Martin expressed his comments in response to an article published by KOCO.com News on Feb. 27, 2014, about the issue.
“As an injury attorney who has handled many difficult cases, I hope this bill will become law in Oklahoma and people will finally stop texting while driving,” Martin said. “For far too long, far too many people have been seriously injured or worse by texting drivers in Oklahoma. While I realize that laws won’t necessarily stop everyone from texting while driving, a ban on texting while driving will get some people to stop the dangerous behavior. Even if this law saves only one life, it will be worth the effort. Texting and driving is a serious problem that needs to be seriously addressed right away.”
Republican State Rep. Terry O’Donnell wrote Oklahoma House Bill 2540, which would ban texting while driving in Oklahoma, according to KOCO.com News. HB 2540 recently received approval in a committee in the House of Representatives in Oklahoma, KOCO.com News reported. The bill will now be voted on by the full state House of Representatives. If the bill passes and is signed by the governor, the law would go into effect Nov. 1, KOCO.com News reported.
O’Donnell’s proposed legislation would make texting while driving a secondary driving offense. As a result, police officers would need another reason besides texting while driving to stop a motorist. Under HB 2540, a police officer would have the power to issue a $500 ticket for texting while driving and the other driving offense, according to KOCO.com News.
O’Donnell is one of several Oklahoma politicians in favor of banning texting while driving statewide, according to a March 1, 2014, article in Hands Free Info’s website. Oklahoma State Sen. Ron Sharp, State Sen. Susan Paddack and Oklahoma State Rep. Curtis McDaniel also support outlawing texting while driving statewide, Hands Free Info reported. State House
Speaker Jeff Hickman also supports banning texting while driving in Oklahoma, according to a Feb. 12, 2014, article published by KOCO.com News about such proposed legislation.
Many other states have laws banning texting while driving. Specifically, 42 states and the District of Columbia have laws prohibiting texting while driving for all drivers, according to Governors Highway Safety Association website, which was last updated in March 2014.
Tulsa distracted driving lawyer Jeff Martin said he hopes O’Donnell’s proposed bill to ban texting while driving in Oklahoma becomes law. “Texting while driving accidents in Oklahoma have become an extremely serious problem,” Martin said. “That’s why it’s critical that state lawmakers take action immediately to outlaw texting while driving. We can’t wait for more fatal car accidents caused by texting drivers. Oklahoma needs to take action now. The stakes are far too high to do nothing. People’s lives are on the line.”
For more information about what to do after a texting while driving accident and the legal options available to Oklahoma residents, call (800) 980-9205 or complete the online contact form.
The KOCO.com articles cited are “Bill to make texting while driving illegal passes committee” and “Oklahoma teens push for ban on texting while driving: Group calls Wednesday news conference.”
The Hands Free Info article cited is “Oklahoma: Cell phone laws, legislation.”
About the Law Offices of Jeff Martin
Jeff Martin has been a personal injury attorney in Tulsa, Oklahoma for over two decades. He and his colleagues at the Law Offices of Jeff Martin are known for aggressive, reliable representation and they have successfully sued big insurance companies and other corporations when clients’ personal injury cases could not be settled out of court. The law firm works on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing if you don’t win.
The Law Offices of Jeff Martin
4815 S. Harvard, Suite# 380
Tulsa, OK 74135
(800) 980-9205
http://www.jeffmartinlaw.com
Jacob M Del Hagen, Big Voodoo Interactive, http://www.bigvoodoo.com, +1 (413) 650-0593, [email protected]
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