Latest news with #DemetriusBranca
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida's ‘Hands-free' bill heads for vote in Senate, stalls in House
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — State senators in Florida are set to vote on a bill to expand hands-free laws. The measure would take an already existing bill banning texting and driving a step further. Demetrius Branca lost his son in a crash involving a distracted driver. 'You can't avoid accountability by doing this, you can't hide behind your chair by doing this, we know who you are and we see what you're doing,' Branca said. Branca and other advocates are pushing lawmakers to pass the bill that would ban any handheld phone use while driving. Florida Attorney General's team investigates price gouging amid hurricane season Trump safe after what FBI describes as apparent assassination attempt Mega Millions $800 million jackpot won; $1 million winner in Florida Kyle Gutierrez describes, 'A lot of people around me use social media while driving and it's unsafe. I know a lot of people who have been hurt from distracted driving.' The legislation has support in the Senate; however, it hasn't moved in the House. Some lawmakers believe it should include more restrictions. Senator Blaise Ingoglia, a Republican from Spring Hills said, 'If we're really going to crack down on distracted driving, we would be including things like shaving, which we've all seen, doing your make-up in your vehicle, eating while driving. Those are all distractions.' Branca is frustrated by the lack of movement in the House. He refuses to stop his efforts in honor of his son. The advocate says, 'It's not a good look to be against public safety and, so, they voted for it twice last year. Now, to this year, when it comes down to it, they don't vote for it. They won't even let it on their agenda and that's because they're hiding.' Senators are set to vote on the legislation, on Wednesday. The bill must pass in the House before it heads to the governor's desk for his signature. If passed the law would take effect on October 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
More than texting: Florida's new hands-free driving bill gets closer to law
A bill aimed at combating distracted driving on Florida roads is moving forward in the State Senate. Senate Bill 1318 would rename the 'Florida Ban on Texting While Driving' law to the 'Florida Hands-Free Driving Law.' It would also expand the prohibition to include 'using, while driving, a wireless communications device in a handheld manner except to activate, deactivate, initiate, or terminate a feature or function of the device, including a hands-free accessory.' The current bill only bans texting while driving - it does not prohibit you from having a phone in your hand. This bill will largely prohibit you from having your phone or any wireless device in your hand or touching any part of your body. It would also make it a primary offense. Florida Traffic Safety Board statistics show in 2024, there were 697,439 total crashes in the state, 14,003 serious injuries, and 3,080 fatalities. 2,289 of those serious injuries and 275 deaths were considered a direct result of distracted driving accidents. 'It's more than a hope. It's a knowledge that it will save lives,' said Demetrius Branca. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] In 2014, Branca lost his 19-year-old son Anthony to a distracted driver. He's positive this bill, if passed and signed into law, would make Florida roads safer. 'We've tried this in 30 other states, plus the District of Columbia, and in every single one as soon as this law is implemented, fatality rates on the roads go down drastically,' said Branca. Read: Florida Gov. praises Jacksonville immigration bill passage, Mayor said she will not rush its signing In 2018, Georgia became one of the first states in the Southeast to implement a hands-free driving law. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) shows the number of people killed in Georgia crashes involving a distracted driver the year the bill passed was 65. The following year, that number dropped to 43 deaths. Maurice Raines is the Deputy Director for the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). He says the number of distracted driver convictions also went up since the law passed. 'Before the law was passed we averaged about 4000 (convictions) and today we bring in over 57,000. So the numbers are going up because people are still trying to do it, but it has helped us. It reduced the number of fatal crashes in our state,' said Raines. The Florida bill has one more committee hearing before heading to the Senate floor for a vote. Read: 'It's never gonna end if we don't fight': 'Free Kill' repeal appears on track to pass after 35-year battle Read: Florida bill would remove work hour restrictions, create exemptions for minors depending on age Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
