Collier Co. Sheriff to launch campaign to make texting while driving illegal

By Andre Senior

CREATED Nov. 27, 2012

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  • Collier Co. Sheriff Kevin Rambosk is set to announce a community-based campaign to make texting while driving illegal on Wednesday. Video by fox4now.com

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NAPLES, Fla. - Collier Co. Sheriff Kevin Rambosk is set to announce a community-based campaign to make texting while driving illegal tomorrow.

 
While details won’t be released until tomorrow’s press conference, Fox 4 did talk with a woman who lost her pregnant daughter to a distracted driver back in 2010.
 
"She was actually crossing 41 and airport,” said Kristin Murphy. She was coming to my house... she just got the keys to her very own apartment".
 
She will join Rambosk when he unveils the plan on Wednesday.
 
Lawmakers in Tallahassee have been debating bills that would ban texting while driving for the last three years, but fail to make any of them law.
 
Fox 4 spoke with Rep. Matt Caldwell of Lehigh Acres about why the bills keep failing.
 
"It's really just a matter of not adding a new law just for the sake of adding a new law."
 
Caldwell said that for him a bill that made texting while driving or distracted driving illegal -- may not be enough.
 
"That's really not accomplishing the goal, which is getting our arms around the whole concept of modern technology and people's ability to operate their motor vehicles in a safe manner." 
 
But just last week, Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, became yet another lawmaker to introduce legislation that would ban texting while driving.
 
The measure would make it a secondary offense, which means that drivers could only be ticketed if they are stopped for another violation such as speeding.
 
Murphy, whose daughter was 19 year old when she was killed by a distracted driver, would like to see a complete ban on all cell phone use while behind the wheel.
 
"My daughter's life was not worth somebody talking to their friend on the phone."