M E M O R A N D U M
To: Members of the Town Council
From: Mayor Tim Meerbott
Date: February 20, 2018
Re: Reaffirming Support for “Florida Ban on Texting While Driving Law”
REQUEST. Title
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A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, REAFFIRMING SUPPORT FOR A STATE BAN ON TEXT MESSAGING WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE; PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
In 2009 the Town Council of the Town of Cutler Bay adopted Resolution No. 09-59 supporting legislation to ban text messaging while operating a motor vehicle.
Tens of thousands of motor vehicle fatalities happen each year due to distracted driving caused by text messaging. The Town Council has adopted their 2019 legislative priorities which support a ban on text messaging while operating a motor vehicle.
The State of Florida enacted State Statute 316.305, known as the “Florida Ban on Texting while Driving Law” in 2013 and updated it in 2014. A person may not operate a motor vehicle while manually typing or entering multiple letter, numbers, symbols, or other characters into a wireless communications device or while sending or reading data on such a device for the purpose of nonvoice interpersonal communication, including, but not limited to, communication methods known as texting, e-mailing, and instant messaging.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Town Council adopt this Resolution formalizing their support for a ban on text messaging while operating a motor vehicle and directing the Town Clerk to provide a copy of the resolution to the Governor of the State of Florida, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Miami-Dade County members of the Florida Senate and House of Representatives.
ATTACHMENTS
Ø Attachment “A” - Town Resolution No. 09-59