What About Grooming or Coffee While Driving?

Posted Tuesday, September 5, 2017 by Andrew Charles Huff

Our state is the latest to implement tougher distracted driving laws to the displeasure of many. Our new law, which took effect July 23, 2017, prohibits drivers from using almost any handheld device, including not just phones but also tablets, laptops, e-readers, and gaming gadgets. In other words, it creates an infraction for reading, writing, or viewing messages, pictures, and data on a handheld device—even while stopped at a red light or a stop sign, or when mired in stop-and-go traffic. The new law makes all these violations a primary offense, meaning police can use them as the sole reason to pull drivers over.

Wait…can I still drink my coffee?

But many have contacted my office asking about other distracting behaviors; namely, grooming and eating or drinking beverages while driving. The new law does in fact make grooming, eating or drinking while driving as a “secondary offense” , meaning drivers grooming themselves or enjoying coffee cannot be stopped unless they commit a separate primary offense, such as speeding or failing to signal.

If you are stopped and ticketed for any of these offenses, call my office at 206-729-3477 or visit my website at www.ahufflaw.com.