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Show m. I BEYOND CAMPUS i I iinii ir.i ni "ill nirr jm - i Qi m 1 A new Utah law was implemented this May to eliminate loopholes in the no texting while driving law. SB 253 forbids drivers to manipulate their phones or tablets with their fingers while driving. Before, the way the law was written, it said texting only, said Sergeant Robin Heiden of the Salt Lake City Police Department. People could actually 11 Facebook while driving down the road. It was a really big loophole. Before SB 253 was implemented, drivers could escape tickets by claiming they were just dialing their phone or using a GPS navigation app. Texting is not the only distraction caused by using a phone while driving. Youve got people emailing, dialing their phone and pulling up GPS addresses thats why they redid this law to cover anything where you are manipulating your phone, Heiden said. It is legal to answer and talk on the phone while driving in Utah only if it can be done safely. It depends on the officer because it could fall under distracted driving if youre the type of person who cant pick up your phone without swerving, Heiden said. You can get stopped and still get a ticket for distracted driving. What does law enforcement consider manipulation of a phone? An officer is not going to stop you if they see you pick up your phone and put it up to your ear if you are answering a call, Heiden said. However, if they see you pick up your phone and dial, thats manipulation of your phone. SB 253 applies only to vehicles in texting-while-drivi- I i 1 ? f I ? J M I 4 I ng motion. Drivers at a red light can legally dial their phone. Heiden wants Utahs SB 253 . and other laws related to phone usage while driving to be lenient compared to other states. He said: In California, you cant even talk on your phone, in Utah You can talk on your phone you can have your phone up to your ear driving down the street in Utah that is legal. Those are the kinds of things people dont understand. Westminster students have mixed opinions on this new law. Some agree it will make the road a safer place, while others argue the law is not enough. Colton Morgan, a photography major and a sophomore from Truckee, California, was unaware SB 253 existed. I support the law if you can use your device to strictly talk on the phone while driving, then I believe that should be legal, said Morgan after learning about the new law. I do not believe you should be able to text and be online while driving. Caleb an undeclared Nowell, sophomore from New Zealand, has heard of SB 253, but is not satisfied with the law. I think that people shouldnt be able to talk on the phone while driving, Nowell said. Where I am from, you cant talk on the phone while driving. Over here, it seems like people are so much more distracted. I think it is a good start, but they should take it further. Nowell has witnessed distracted drivers talking on the phone firsthand. I always see people trying to change lanes into me while driving and talking on the phone, Nowell said. It is up to law enforcement to determine if a driver is violating SB 253. They decide if the driver is doing more than answering a phone call. The purpose of this new law is to increase the safety of nw? Ut I I 7CV7 I CA I V non C UftMC t k Utah roadways. i I t t f L I t ti t HSjpU Jr - 4!k i |