No Tickets Issued For Texting And Driving Ban

One week has passed since the Sioux Falls texting and driving ban went into effect, and so far no tickets have been issued.

 The new law makes pulling someone over for texting and driving a challenge for Sioux Falls Police.

 Officer Sam Clemens said, “Certainly we knew that with the law that there were going to be some challenges trying to enforce it.”

This is not because people have stopped texting and driving, but because taking someone to court for the offense is difficult to prove.

Officer Clemens said, “When you have this particular law this allows people to make phone calls the officer is going to have to go to court and swear that they know that that person was texting versus making a phone call.”

But the lack of tickets doesn't come as a surprise for some Sioux Falls drivers.

 Stacey Lichtsinn said, “Most people have tinted windows and unless you're texting and they are sitting right beside you how are they going to know.”

Taylor Obe said, “So I’m sure like down the road you'll see more tickets being given out for it.”

And police feel the law will help to ticket more people who are committing other violations as well.

Officer Clemens said, “ If you stop somebody and you believe they are texting and they say no we were using the phone call, but they were swerving in their lane or not driving in the roadway they could still be cited for any number of different various law violations.”

While a ticket hasn't been issued yet, police hope the new law reminds drivers to put their phones down when they're behind the wheel.