Farmington-Farmington Hills Patch Readers Weigh in on New Teen Driver Cell Phone Ban

A new Michigan law, known as "Kelsey's Law" which prohibits teen drivers from using a cell phone while driving a car, goes into to effect Thursday.

According to the bill signed into law earlier this year, if any driver with a temporary drivers permit or a level 1 or 2 graduated license - meaning any driver under the age of 17 - is stopped for a moving violation, he or she could be cited with a civil infraction for using a cell phone. 

Because the violation is a civil infraction, local municipalities will determine the fine.

The legislation was named for a 17-year-old Sault Ste. Marie girl who died in a car crash in 2010 while she was using her cell phone.

Readers of the Farmington-Farmington Hills Patch Facebook page were asked about their thoughts of law. Here are some of the responses:

• Cassandra Lamas-Føssen: I just moved to Hawaii eight months ago from F. Hills and Hawaii law prohibits ANYONE from being on the phone while driving. You cannot call or text, you must use a hands free device to make a call. Eliminates a lot of unnecessary distractions!!!
• Bill Frigon: Just this weekend, a young couple was driving down 6 mile in and out of the lane. If there happened to be someone on the shoulder walking, I'm sure they would have been hit. Pulled up along side them, and the driver was texting away.
• Linda Weber: Hands-free doesn't mean distraction-free...even talking to passengers while you're driving can cause you to become distracted enough to get into an accident.

Share your thoughts in the comments section below.