Res No. 55-17RESOLUTION NO. 55-17
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
DELRAY BEACH; FLORIDA, URGING ALL MEMBERS OF THE
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO MAKE
TEXTING WHILE DRIVING A PRIMARY OFFENSE; DIRECTING THE
CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS
RESOLUTION TO GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT, THE FLORIDA
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE FLORIDA
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE PALM BEACH COUNTY LEAGUE
OF CITIES, AND THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES; PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, on May 7, 2013, this Commission passed Resolution 26-13 supporting a ban on texting
while driving; and
WHEREAS, during the 2013 regular session, the Florida Legislature passed the Florida Ban on Texting
While Driving Law, which made texting while driving a noncriminal traffic infraction; and
WHEREAS, according to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, textM9 while driving makes the
likelihood of a crash 23 times greater than driving while not distracted,; and
WHEREAS, in 2014, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NH [TSA) reported an
estimated total of 967,000 crashes, 431,000 injuries and 3,179 deaths in the United States that involved distracted
drivers; and
WHEREAS, as of March 2016, 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S.
Virgin Islands have banned textM9 while driving for all drivers; and
WHEREAS, of the 46 states that have banned texting while driving, all but five have made texting
while driving a primary offense; and
WHEREAS, Florida is among the five states that do not enforce texting while driving as a primary
offense, but instead as a secondary offense; and
WHEREAS, a secondary offense is an offense for which a law enforcement officer can issue a ticket
only if a driver has been pulled over for committing another traffic violation; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature has considered bills that would make texting while driving a
primary offense; however, to date, such bills have not been passed, allowing texting while driving to remain a
secondary offense in Florida; and
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WHEREAS, this City Commission of the City of Delray Beach urges the Florida Legislature to enact
legislation that would make texting while driving a primary offense.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE QTY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
DELRAY BEACI� FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That the foregoing recitals are hereby confirmed and ratified.
Section 2. That the City Commission hereby urges the Florida Legislature to enact legislation to
make texting while driving a primary offense.
Section 3. That the City Commission directs the City's lobbyists to advocate for the passage of the
legislation as set forth in Section 1, supra.
Section 4. The City Clerk is hereby directed to distribute copies of this Resolution pursuant to the
Est attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit "A."
Section 5. That this resolution shall become effective immediately upon passage.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 2nd day of August, 2017.
ATTEST:
City erk
Cary Glickstem, Mayor
2 RES. NO. 55-17
Exhibit A
Governor Rick Scott
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Representative Richard Corcoran
Florida Speaker of the House
420 The Capitol
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Senator Joe Negron
Florida President of the Senate
305 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
League of Cities
301 S. Bronough Street
Suite 300
Tallahassee, FL 32302
Palm Beach County League of Cities
P.O. Box 1989, Governmental Center
West Palm Beach, FL 33402
RES. NO. 55-17