Arizona DUI & Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog
According to a report in the Arizona Daily Star (11/11/13), the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) intends to begin a campaign in January to crack down on drivers who are distracted by texting or otherwise using their cell phones while behind the wheel. DPS spokesman Bart Graves highlighted the recent death of DPS officer Tim Huffman, who was allegedly killed earlier this year by a driver of a semi-truck who was distracted by his cell phone. Although our State Legislature has rejected previous attempts at regulating cell phone usage while driving, DPS plans to cite driver's under Arizona Revised Statute §28-701– Speed Not Reasonable and Prudent:
A. A person shall not drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances, conditions and actual and potential hazards then existing. A person shall control the speed of a vehicle as necessary to avoid colliding with any object, person, vehicle or other conveyance on, entering or adjacent to the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to exercise reasonable care for the protection of others.
This is a civil traffic violation and the penalties for civil traffic speeding violations include 3 points against your driver's license and a maximum fine of $250 (plus surcharges).