While a new law significantly increases the fine for texting and driving violations in Colorado, it also makes texting and driving legal, as long as it isn’t done in a “careless or imprudent manner.”
As The Denver Post reports, the little-noticed provision softening the state’s standard is part of a new law that increased the penalties for a texting while driving carelessly citation from $50 to $300 and from one to four points on a driver’s license.
Prior to passage of the law, any texting or other type of mobile device operation by a motorist was prohibited.
State lawmakers who made the changes, as well as law enforcement agencies that supported the stiffer penalties, argue they will deter texting while targeting the most dangerous drivers but officials acknowledge that it is now harder to issue citations to drivers for texting while driving – and that the law opens the door to more legal challenges in court.
The new law creates a two-part test before law enforcement can issue a citation.
