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NEW CANAAN, Conn. — State Rep. Thomas O’Dea Jr., R-125 New Canaan, Wilton, recently voted in favor of a bill that would increase fines for distracted drivers, a release from his office said.
"During my run for state house last year, I stated on numerous occasions that I thought distracted driving was the single biggest danger facing motorists, cyclists and pedestrians on the roads today and this bill increases awareness and the consequences for a violation,” O’Dea said in the release.
The bill was unanimously approved by the Transportation Committee and will now go to the state’s House of Representatives for a full debate and vote, the release said.
According to the release the bill would:
• Establishing a task force to prevent distracted driving and help improve enforcement of current laws given the new advancements of mobile technology.
• Increasing the fine for a first distracted driving violation from $100 to $150; a second violation from $150 to $300; and a third violation from $200 to $500.
• Creates a point system for offenses that has the potential to affect the violator’s car insurance premium.
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