DeWine signs bill restricting Ohioans from using phones while driving

COLUMBUS — Today Governor Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 288 into, law prohibiting Ohioans from using phones and other devices while driving.

With SB 288, distracted driving becomes a primary offense, and law enforcement will be given more tools to combat it. The bill will allow drivers to be stopped by police solely for holding or using a cellphone while driving.

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According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, from 2013 until 2019, more than 91,000 distracted driving crashes occurred throughout the state of Ohio, resulting in 47,000 injuries and 305 deaths.

At the bill signing ceremony at the Ohio Statehouse Tuesday morning, DeWine opened with a moment of silence in honor of Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin, who remains in critical condition after suffering from cardiac arrest following a hit during the Bills game against the Cincinnati Bengals Monday night.

DeWine was joined by Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted, Ohio State Senator Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard,) Ohio State Representative Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison,) Col. Charles A. Jones, Superintendent, and Ohio State Highway Patrol Dom Tiberi.

“With the signing of [S.B.] 288, we begin the change the culture in the state of Ohio in regard to distractive driving. That’s really what this bill is all about,” DeWine said during the signing presser.”

DeWine said the bill will save many lives.

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“No one will ever know who’s lives were saved, but we know with a signature on this bill today that many families will be spared the horror and tragedy of having a call, a visit from the highway patrol or the police to tell them that their child, their mom, their dad, their spouse is dead,” DeWine said.

The legislation has some exceptions, our news partners at 10TV in Columbus reported. Some exceptions include if the motorist is stopped at a red light, using a speaker function without holding the phone or holding phones to their ears for call but not using texting or typing functions.

You can watch the full bill signing ceremony here:

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