The former Central Michigan University student and Mount Pleasant resident begins texting his friends soon into the drive.

“I feel like I’m capable of texting and driving because I’ve done it for years,” he said. “I’m still going to do it anyway despite the law.”

Although many drivers also admit the same thing, Hudson and others are breaking the law. In July, a statewide act was passed which banned texting while driving, but three local police agencies haven’t written any tickets.

Officers from the Central Michigan University Police, Mount Pleasant Police and Isabella County’s Sheriff’s departments have been prepared to enforce the law. However, all agencies agree it’s difficult.

“It’s hard to tell what a person’s doing if you’re not stopped at the side of them,” said Jeff Browne, MPPD public information officer. “How do you tell if you’re passing a person at 30 mph?”

Hudson said he has the freedom to choose whether or not he texts. Still, Saint Clair sophomore Stephanie Killewald said it’s not that simple.

“I don’t think you have a choice to put someone else in danger,” she said.

Traits officers look for are heads down while driving, holding a phone up further and looking preoccupied instead of at the road.

“The only way to tell is if you pull someone over and you see them finishing their message,” said Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski. “(Or) if someone gets into an accident and admits texting to be the cause. But other than that it’s very difficult.”

Mioduszewski also said finding a texting driver sometimes comes with severe consequences.

But Richmond junior Benjamin Rygwelski said some other Michigan cities are really cracking down on the new law.

“My sister got pulled over in Anchor Bay when a cop was behind her at 10 p.m.,” he said. “The officer saw the illumination from the phone and asked to see it.”

Rygwelski’s sister was not texting. Her phone was illuminated because of an incoming call.

Situations like this make enforcing the law tricky for many officers.

“It’s kind of up to each individual officer how they handle it,” Browne said. “But things like holding your phone up higher and using two hands on a slide keyboard make it pretty apparent.”

Taking a phone for investigation is also a troublesome topic for both drivers and officers said Sgt. Cameron Wassman of CMU Police.

“We can search a phone with the cooperation of the driver,” Wassman said. “Keep in mind that this is not a federal offense but a civil infraction.”

Thursday, two new changes will come into effect: the law banning texting while driving and a new 10 percent tax on tanning services.

Some students are not excited about either of these changes.

“My mom sent me an article about the new law as soon as she heard about it,” Mount Pleasant resident Alyssa Wilcox said.

Wilcox said she likes to text while driving, but will try to be more careful.

The ban on texting was signed into law by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on April 30 and will cost $100 for a first offense and repeat offenses will cost $200.

Nicky Van, a Portage senior, said he knows many people and often can’t avoid texting them back and answering their e-mails.

“It’s a habit and I don’t think I will every really stop texting,” Van said. “I know too many people and I’m a very busy guy, however I will be more cautious about it though.”

Tanning tax

Mike Lapoe, owner of B-Tan, 1620 S. Mission St., said people may start tanning less as a result of the 10 percent tax which will be added as a part of the health care bill, but he is not sure yet.

“People need to understand that the 10 percent increase will go to the federal government for the health reform bill and not to our salon,” Lapoe said

Lapoe said summer is not the best time for sales, so he will probably notice the change when more people are in the city during the fall.

Amanda Ouro, a senior from Sterling Heights, said she will continue to tan.

“I still like to tan so I’m still going to go, however I think the only thing that will change a bit is how often I will go,” Ouro said.

Ouro said she does not tan too often, but enjoys how she feels after a trip to the salon.

“People have already complained a lot about the new tax increase and are buying their packages now, before the bill goes in effect,” said Lauren Conn, assistant manager of Mountain Tan, 1635 E. Broomfield St.

Conn said their business expects an increase in sales until Thursday.

“They tax alcohol and cigarettes,” Conn said. “People will find a way to afford tanning too.”

His classmate’s death is one of many reminders that keeps him from sending texts on the road. He supports the new texting while driving ban, which goes into effect July 1.

“I think it is a good idea,” Picard said. “Driving already is a huge multi-task and you are adding another factor onto it.”

The bill makes writing or reading text messages while driving a primary offense. This means police officers are allowed to pull over drivers if they spot them typing on their phone while their vehicle is in use.

Violators can be fined $100 for the first offense and $200 for the second.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm will sign the bill Friday during a safe driving rally in Detroit that will be broadcast on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

Michigan will be the 23rd state to ban texting while driving.

“I don’t think they will be able to enforce it,” Picard said. “How will they? There aren’t enough police to stop everybody.”

State Rep. Bill Caul, R-Mount Pleasant, did not initially support the bill. He questioned the subjective nature of police searches and how they could be conducted.

Caul supported the modified bill on its second pass.

“I’m concerned about those pieces of legislation that put another requirement on law enforcement when they are already busy with things to do,” he said. “There are a whole host of reasons why we need to pay attention while driving.”

Brighton junior Heather Kardas feels conflicted about the new bill because it could be effective, but may also be a difficult adjustment for her.

“I think people are very dangerous when they drive and their attention is not where it should be,” Kardas said. “But I’m kind of upset that it is going to be illegal because I do text.”

She said the fines are not comparable to a potential death on the road.

David Lopez, engineering and technology associate professor, said the bill is a good idea and should have been drafted years ago.

He and several students were almost struck by a girl on campus who was text messaging at the wheel, Lopez said.

“She was so busy texting she could have hit us,” he said. “I was thinking at the time she could have killed all of us.”

In July, four U.S. senators pushed a bill to ban texting and e-mailing while driving and cause states not approving text ban laws within two years to lose up to 25 percent of federal highway funds.

Eighteen states and the District of Columbia approved anti-texting legislation, while others are considering it. Six states, including New York, banned cell phone use while driving altogether.

A survey by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute released in July showed drivers who are texting while driving are 23 times more at risk of a crash or near-crash event than non-distracted drivers.

“Texting is certainly far different. It involves someone taking one hand off the wheel and their eyes off the road,” said Anne Readett, communications manager of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning.

The push for such a ban reached Michigan two years ago, without any results. But it is back in the spotlight.

In 2007 and again last March, State Sen. Buzz Thomas, D-Detroit, introduced Bill 402, a proposition to ban texting while driving.

“There is no need to be sending a text while driving your car — it’s one of the most dangerous things a driver can do,” Thomas said in a prepared statement. “If it’s really that important, pull over and send your message or just wait until you get to where you are going.”

The bill, which would making texting while driving a misdemeanor offense with a $100 fine, has not received any attention the past few months, but Thomas said this is the second session in which he introduced the bill. He said he hopes the Michigan legislature will realize the urgency and approve the bill.

Dennis Denno, Thomas’ chief of staff, said nothing significant has changed in the bill since 2007.
“We definitely get a lot of e-mails of support,” he said. “Nobody’s opposed to it.”

Enforcement

One of the main reservations about a ban is the difficulty in enforcing it.

“It would be up to the state legislators to make the law and decisions on whether it would be a civil infraction or misdemeanor, what the fines, costs, points on license and possible jail time,” said Mount Pleasant Police Department Information Officer Dave Sabuda. “We as a department would adapt our response to their decisions.”

Statistics in Michigan for cell phone use during crashes are still low. In 2007, there were 872 drivers involved in accidents while using a cell phone out of more than 324,000 accidents total, Readett said.

“One of the most frequently reported accidents in the city of Mount Pleasant is a rear-end type accident. When someone is texting, they are not looking at the cars in front of them,” Sabuda said.

Student support

While texting is popular among the younger generation, students support a ban on texting while driving.

“I’d say it’s a good thing,” said Muskegon sophomore Kilee Boyd. “Most people who are texting are going from class to home and they can wait a little longer.”

Anthony Scott-Buyck, a Detroit junior, said the issue comes back to the safety of the drivers.

“When you are driving, one is to drive for the other drivers as well,” he said. “However, if one is texting, that means that they are most likely going to miss something or someone.”

-Senior Reporter Hilary Farrell contributed to this report