‘America’s worst traffic fine’ dropped from $10,000 to only $500 so cops can ‘catch more people breaking the law’

ONE of the nation’s highest fines for distracted driving with a phone could have cost drivers upwards of $10,000– but the law was changed once they struggled to punish texters.

Due to the rise of smartphones in the past two decades, driving while on the phone has become a particular problem among drivers.

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A $10,000 fine could have hit driving texters in this one state[/caption]

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Fines could go up to $250,000[/caption]

An issue that one state was looking to punish to the fullest degree.

Alaska once had a $10,000 fine and misdemeanor charge for those who were caught texting while driving.

In fact, the state still has the punishment on a government website.

But lawmakers realized that it was difficult to prosecute individuals, and lowered the fine.

The state not only attempted to charge up to $10,000, but could also give one year in prison.

In 2016, however, that changed.

“SB 123 changes the penalty for driving while texting from a class A misdemeanor to a violation of up to $500, unless the action causes physical injury or death to another person,” Senator Kevin Meyer wrote at the time in his proposal.

“The more severe penalties for those offenses will remain unchanged.”

If someone is injured, the fee could cost drivers $50,000, and five years in prison.

If someone is killed, a $250,000 fine could be slapped on to those behind the wheel alongside 20 years in prison.

Now, the law is more nuanced in its approach in order to fine more people.

“The reduction in penalty is intended to make prosecution of distracted drivers more expedient,” Meyer said.

“Law enforcement officers will be able to issue tickets immediately, rather than prosecute the individual through the court system.”

In 2015, only 32 people were charged with texting while driving due to the difficulty of prosecuting.

Alaska’s fee was 10 times higher than the second-most expensive state, Oregon, which is still in effect.

For first time offenses, the state could issue a fine of up to $1,000.

“When you aren’t paying attention to driving, the costs could be even higher: you could kill yourself or someone else,” the state wrote on its website.

“Is it worth a life for a text or call?”

Many other states are much cheaper, and some stay under $100 for first-time offenders, such as Alabama and Pennsylvania.

In Montana, texting while driving is still not illegal.

Earlier this year, legislators tried to add a ban on handheld devices while driving in the state, but the bill died while in the process.

The bill, known as “Chloe’s Law,” was drafted after 25-year-old Chloe Worl was killed by a distracted driver in the state.

“We don’t feel that Chloe received justice from the judicial system,” her mother, Connie, said back in May to KXLF.

“The way we were received during the legislative committee—the House legislative committee—you know, I don’t think her tragedy was even validated. Or our loss was validated.”

In 2023, 3,275 people were killed across the nation due to distracted driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Over 324,000 people were injured.

“This risky driving behavior poses a danger not only to vehicle occupants but pedestrians and pedalcyclists as well,” the agency wrote.

“Much attention has been focused on the dangers of using cellphones and other electronic devices while driving. In
2023 there were 369 fatal traffic crashes reported as having cellphone use as a distraction.”