Text messaging behind the wheel is against state law starting today.
So if you're driving and just can't wait to get in touch with a friend, you might want to type a post on his or her Facebook wall.
Activities such as searching the Internet, playing games and making a playlist on your iPod all remain legal for drivers, who are prohibited only from texting and emailing. The law was watered down after Indiana lawmakers balked at a comprehensive ban on using handheld devices behind the wheel.
"We were just not able to get that done in the legislative session," said Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, who had supported a full ban but agreed to sponsor the existing law. "This is the best that we could do," he conceded during a news conference Thursday to outline the new law.
Rep. Eric Koch, R-Bedford, who wrote the language banning only text and emails -- and permitting other Internet usage -- said he kept the ban narrowly focused to ensure it could hold up to legal scrutiny.
One challenge was "passing constitutional muster, being written with enough specificity to fairly put the public on notice," he said, "and the other challenge is the swift evolution of technology."
The law, House Enrolled Act 1129, which went into effect today, bans the use of "a telecommunications device to type, transmit or read a text message or an electronic mail message" while driving.
Law enforcement tools are limited: If a police officer pulls you over and asks to see your phone, you don't have to hand it over.
Still, motorists convicted of texting while driving, a Class C infraction, risk a $500 fine, and their liability may be increased if the texting results in an accident.
"All the research shows this distraction is the most distracting," Holdman said.
Bluffton Police Chief Tammy Schaffer said she routinely sees drivers sending text messages.
"We're not going to catch everybody that's texting," she said. "But maybe if we can catch a few we can make our roads a little bit safer."
Bob Spolyar, of State Farm Insurance, said the effects the measure will have will go beyond the number of people caught by police. He said the law will make Indiana safer by discouraging law-abiding people from texting while driving and making the practice less socially acceptable.
Both Holdman and Schaffer admitted they had sent text messages while driving.
Carmel resident Kathleen Soens knows the dangers of texting while driving.
Her husband, George "Terry" Rossman, died in an accident involving a driver who was sending a message on a handheld device.
Soens worked with Holdman on the law and said she would have preferred a comprehensive ban.
Koch said his other reason for not seeking one was ensuring he had enough votes to pass the bill, after a similar ban died last year.
"I know there are some people that probably would have preferred a ban on all handheld devices," he said, "and there are probably people at the other end of the spectrum who think people should stay out of this issue and so the legislative process being what it is, this was the result."
One person at that end of the spectrum is Rep. Mike Speedy, R-Indianapolis.
Speedy acknowledged that texting while driving is a dangerous problem but criticized the law as unenforceable and a needless infringement on Hoosiers' freedom.
"Punish reckless driving," he said. "Address the texting while driving problem through education."
Texting behind the wheel is still allowed when you are stopped at a stoplight.
So if you're driving and just can't wait to get in touch with a friend, you might want to type a post on his or her Facebook wall.
Activities such as searching the Internet, playing games and making a playlist on your iPod all remain legal for drivers, who are prohibited only from texting and emailing. The law was watered down after Indiana lawmakers balked at a comprehensive ban on using handheld devices behind the wheel.
"We were just not able to get that done in the legislative session," said Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, who had supported a full ban but agreed to sponsor the existing law. "This is the best that we could do," he conceded during a news conference Thursday to outline the new law.
Rep. Eric Koch, R-Bedford, who wrote the language banning only text and emails -- and permitting other Internet usage -- said he kept the ban narrowly focused to ensure it could hold up to legal scrutiny.
One challenge was "passing constitutional muster, being written with enough specificity to fairly put the public on notice," he said, "and the other challenge is the swift evolution of technology."
The law, House Enrolled Act 1129, which went into effect today, bans the use of "a telecommunications device to type, transmit or read a text message or an electronic mail message" while driving.
Law enforcement tools are limited: If a police officer pulls you over and asks to see your phone, you don't have to hand it over.
Still, motorists convicted of texting while driving, a Class C infraction, risk a $500 fine, and their liability may be increased if the texting results in an accident.
"All the research shows this distraction is the most distracting," Holdman said.
Bluffton Police Chief Tammy Schaffer said she routinely sees drivers sending text messages.
"We're not going to catch everybody that's texting," she said. "But maybe if we can catch a few we can make our roads a little bit safer."
Bob Spolyar, of State Farm Insurance, said the effects the measure will have will go beyond the number of people caught by police. He said the law will make Indiana safer by discouraging law-abiding people from texting while driving and making the practice less socially acceptable.
Both Holdman and Schaffer admitted they had sent text messages while driving.
Carmel resident Kathleen Soens knows the dangers of texting while driving.
Her husband, George "Terry" Rossman, died in an accident involving a driver who was sending a message on a handheld device.
Soens worked with Holdman on the law and said she would have preferred a comprehensive ban.
Koch said his other reason for not seeking one was ensuring he had enough votes to pass the bill, after a similar ban died last year.
"I know there are some people that probably would have preferred a ban on all handheld devices," he said, "and there are probably people at the other end of the spectrum who think people should stay out of this issue and so the legislative process being what it is, this was the result."
One person at that end of the spectrum is Rep. Mike Speedy, R-Indianapolis.
Speedy acknowledged that texting while driving is a dangerous problem but criticized the law as unenforceable and a needless infringement on Hoosiers' freedom.
"Punish reckless driving," he said. "Address the texting while driving problem through education."
Texting behind the wheel is still allowed when you are stopped at a stoplight.
