Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huckleberries Online

SR: Traffic safety should come first

Bad news for unsafe drivers. It’s National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and Idaho and Washington law enforcement agencies are in the midst of emphasis patrols. Legislators in both states could assist this effort by updating laws on cellphone use. Idaho badly needs to update its seat belt law. In Washington, drivers engaged in a cellphone call or texting can be fined $124 under state law. Hands-free calls are legal. In Idaho, drivers can be fined $81.50 for texting. These are primary offenses, meaning drivers can be pulled over for them. There are other distracted driving fines, but those are secondary offenses, meaning drivers have to commit some other offense first/Spokesman-Review Editorial Board. More here.

Question: Do you think Idaho needs tougher seatbelt laws?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

Follow Dave online: