Crime & Safety

Police: Texting and Driving is Illegal, but Hard to Enforce

In Wyandotte, only two tickets have been issued since the law was enacted in 2010.

Texting and driving is illegal in Michigan, but local and state law enforcement agents and experts say the law is difficult to enforce.

Public Act 60 of 2010 prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle while reading, typing, or sending a text message on an electronic wireless device. 

Since that law went into effect on July 1, 2010, Wyandotte police officers have written only two tickets for violating it, according to the Traffic Improvement Association of Michigan.

Find out what's happening in Wyandottewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Jim Santilli, executive director of that nonprofit, said enforcement of texting and driving laws is difficult. The TIA has been working to draw more attention to the dangers of distracted driving; one of the TIA’s projects is a campaign featuring the friends and family of Michigan teenager Ally Zimmerman, who was killed in a distracted driving accident. Santilli said the tragedy is a reminder why it is so critical to educate people about this issue.

“If we save one life or prevent one injury, it’s worth it,” Santilli said.

Find out what's happening in Wyandottewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

There have been 185 texting and driving citations issued so far this year throughout Wayne County, 199 in Oakland and 43 in Macomb, according to Michigan State Police.

State Police Sgt. Mike Church said the texting and driving statute is difficult to enforce, especially with the advancements in smart phones since the law was put in effect.

When an officer pulls over someone for texting and driving, which is a civil infraction, the phone can’t be seized for proof. And since technology has advanced since the law was passed, he said, drivers could be using their phones to scroll for music, view a website or view a map.

“The only thing (the law) seems to prohibit is text messaging,” Church said.

While flawed, he said, the law is a move in the right direction.

“It is a very good place to start,” Church said. “Distracted driving is very dangerous.”

Wyandotte Police Chief Daniel Grant agreed, but said his officers have never expressed widespread concern about feeling handcuffed by the existing law. It's just not a violation that's been seen or has caused accidents in town, Grant said.

In Michigan last year, drivers were reported to be distracted in 3,986 crashes, and using cell phones in 821 crashes. 

But, the actual numbers of deaths, injuries and accidents are likely even higher, said Dominique Matich, a traffic safety specialist for the TIA, because police don't report distracted driving or cellular use in an accident unless the driver reports it as a factor.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.