The month of April is designated as Distracted Driving Awareness month throughout the nation including in Maverick County. 
Every year the problem of accidents and deaths caused by distracted drivers continues to rise with more people dying senselessly on Texas roads due to distracted driving. Information from the state shows that 1 out of every 5 traffic crashes in Texas is caused by a distracted driver.

Jose G. Landa
Staff writer

According to information from Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber, sheriff’s deputies responded to Rosita Valley Road in the early morning hours of January 31, in regards to a motor vehicle accident. "At

Jose G. Landa

Staff writer

  As the State of Texas begins the implementation process on the No Texting While Driving Law, communities such as Eagle Pass will also have to adjust to the enforcement aspect of the law not only on the streets, but in the courts as well.  

  Texas House Bill 62 bans texting while driving and goes into effect September 1,2017. Locally officials are in preparation for the long awaited legislation.    

  City of Eagle Pass Legal Counsel Ruben O. Valadez and Heriberto Morales Jr. as City Prosecutors are on top of incoming laws and changes such as House Bill 62, and are ready to put the law into judicial practice come September 1. 

 “There is ample evidence that distracted driving is just as dangerous as impaired driving. According to the CDC, approximately 9 people are killed and more than 1,000 injured every day in the United States in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver,” said Morales. “According to TXDOT statistics, in 2016 there were 109,658 traffic crashes in Texas involving distracted driving—up 3 percent over 2015. More than 3,000 people were seriously injured as a result, and 455 died. This new law takes the threat of distracted driving seriously and addresses it as such.”

    Enforcement of the law in the field will fall under the responsibility of law enforcement officials, but a correlation between all government entities will be necessary in order to be just and verify that the necessary elements for any traffic violation are present before taking it to court. 

“As for our work as municipal court prosecutors, we will prosecute these cases as we do all cases that come before the court, by trying to prove to the court beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant's conduct on the occasion in question meets the element of the offense he is accused of committing,” said Morales. “In the end, it is not about convicting people but making sure that justice is served and ensuring that the city streets and roadways are generally safe for all our citizens.

Ley de “No Texting While Driving” entra en vigor el 1º de septiembre

A medida que el Estado de Texas comienza el proceso de implementación de la Ley de No Texting While Driving, comunidades como Eagle Pass también tendrán que ajustarse al aspecto de cumplimiento de la ley no sólo en las calles, sino también en los tribunales.

Texas House Bill 62 prohibe texting conduciendo y  la ley entra en  vigor septiembre  1,2017.    

Los funcionarios locales están en preparación para la tan esperada legislación.

 Asesor legal de Eagle Pass  Ruben O. Valadez y Heriberto Morales, Jr., como Fiscales de la Ciudad estan viendo leyes de entrada y cambios como la Casa Bill 62, y estan listos para poner la ley en práctica judicial que empezará  el 1 de septiembre.

“Hay muchos  motivos  que la conducción distraída es tan peligrosa como perjudicial para los conductores.   Según el CDC, aproximadamente 9 personas mueren y más de 1,000 perjudicados cada día en los Estados Unidos en accidentes que son por un conductor distraído”, dijo Morales. “Según la estadística TXDOT, en 2016 había 109,658 accidentes de tráfico en Texas que implica la conducción distraída — en lo alto del 3 por ciento durante 2015. 

Más de 3,000 personas fueron seriamente heridas como consiguiente, y 455 murieron . Esta nueva ley toma la amenaza en serio de la conducción distraída y se dirige a ello como tal”.

La imposición de la ley en el campo  caerá bajo la responsabilidad de funcionarios encargados de hacer cumplir la ley, pero una correlación entre todas las entidades del gobierno será necesaria a fin de ser justa y verificar que los elementos necesarios para cualquier infracción de tráfico están presentes antes de llevarlo a la corte.

“En cuanto a nuestro trabajo como acusadores del tribunal municipales, procesaremos estos casos ya que hacemos todos los casos que vienen antes del tribunal, tratando de demostrar  más allá de una duda razonable que la conducta de un demandado en la ocasión antes mencionada encuentra el elemento de la ofensa es acusado de la comisión”, dijo Morales. “Al final, no es sobre la condenación de la gente, pero asegurándose que la justicia es atendida y asegurando que las calles de la ciudad y las carreteras esten seguras para todos nuestros ciudadanos”.

After pushing the issue for nearly a decade, key lawmakers in the Texas Legislature are optimistic that a statewide texting-while-driving ban is within reach.

HOUSTON (AP) — A witness says the driver of a pickup truck that collided with a church minibus in rural Texas, killing 13 people, acknowledged he had been texting while driving — highlighting the dangers of sending messages on smartphones while behind the wheel.