Louisiana's Texting Law

Last session, our legislature passed a law banning the use of wireless communications devices, including, include cell phones, PDAs, and laptop computers, to "write, send, or read a text based communication" while operating a motor vehicle. WDSU reports that less than fifty tickets have been issued under the law, allegedly because drivers can claim they were simply dialing rather than texting, which is exempt from the law. That number is actually higher that I would expect, however, because the law only applies if the driver is stopped for another traffic violation. So there's even less chance of getting a ticket to begin with. I'd be happy if someone would enforce our existing traffic laws, you know, using turn signals, not running red lights, all of those things that seem to have been driver optional for years.