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Court Sends Message to Driving, Texting Teen

February 10, 2009 - WATERVILLE -- A 16-year-old girl was fined $137 and lost her driving privileges for six months for texting while driving a car. The fine and the suspension were handed down Monday at Waterville District Court.

The penalties come about six months after the girl was involved in a crash on Interstate 95 in Sidney, according to the Maine Department of Public Safety.

The girl said she had fallen asleep at the wheel, but Maine State Trooper Jeff Beach reviewed the teenager's cell- phone log and found she was text messaging at the time of the crash, public safety officials said.

Public safety officials said the girl's car slammed into the rear of a second vehicle, slightly injuring the occupants of that car.

Waterville Deputy Police Chief Charles Rumsey said talking on cell phones while driving is the more common problem his officers see.

"The word I'm hearing is that cell phone use while driving is rampant," he said, "and that can be an issue; but our officers have not seen any incidents of texting while driving, nor have we investigated any accidents where texting was a factor."

Maine law prohibits any driver under the age of 18 from using a cell phone or other hand-held electronic device while driving.

Rumsey said the law enforces what common sense should dictate. "Certainly, anything like that that would take a driver's eyes off the road while driving would be dangerous," he said.

Kennebec Journal, 02/07/2009


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