Grace period for distracted driving law ends in Washington
Jan 2, 2018, 6:26 AM | Updated: 6:27 am
(File, Associated Press)
If you’re caught driving while using your phone, you’ll no longer just get a warning.
RELATED: What you need to know about distracted driving
The Washington State Patrol’s grace period expired Monday, KIRO 7 reports.
Now, first-time violators will be fined $136. Get caught a second time, you’ll pay $234.
On top of that, drivers can get dinged for putting on makeup, smoking, eating, or reading while driving. Troopers can fine you an additional $99 for those behaviors if you’re pulled over for another offense.
According to the state Traffic Safety Commission, fatalities caused by distracted driving shot up by about one-third from 2014 to 2015.