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Boca Raton council backs state hands‑free driving bill after victims urge action
Summary
The City Council unanimously adopted a resolution supporting state legislation to require hands‑free phone use while driving after victims and advocates described personal losses and statewide crash statistics.
The Boca Raton City Council on Feb. 25 unanimously adopted Resolution 312025 supporting state legislation to require hands‑free device use while driving.
The resolution, introduced by Deputy Mayor Drucker, passed 5-0 after public comment from two advocates with personal ties to distracted‑driving crashes. The council voted by roll call: Council Member Nacklis—yes; Council Member Thompson—yes; Council Member Wachter—yes; Deputy Mayor Drucker—yes; Mayor Singer—yes.
The measure directs the city to support state House Bill 501, described in speakers' remarks as a hands‑free law that would expand existing Florida restrictions beyond texting and in school and construction zones.
The resolution drew emotional testimony. Emily Slossberg King, who said she sponsored and passed Florida's texting‑and‑driving law in 2019 and lost her twin sister in a Boca Raton crash, urged the council to back broader statewide restrictions. “By passing this resolution in support of hands free legislation, the city of Boca Raton can send a powerful message to our state leaders. We demand action,” she said.
Demetrius Branca, who said his son Anthony was killed by a distracted driver, told the council he has traveled “going on 5,500 miles” urging city councils across the state to back stronger laws and called current law “unenforceable.” He described previous legislative efforts named for his son that cleared committees but stalled in the Senate.
Deputy Mayor Drucker framed the resolution as a public‑safety item and said the city’s role is to show municipal support for the pending state bill. “Some of the statistics that [Ms. Slossberg King] will share with you were very alarming to me,” she said during the staff presentation.
The resolution was moved and seconded from the dais; the formal motion recorded a second by Council Member Nacklis. The council’s action is a formal expression of support; it does not itself change local traffic enforcement policy and is listed as a policy position to be transmitted to state lawmakers.
The item was heard from the consent agenda as a separate resolution after public comment. The council noted the measure’s alignment with the city’s stated public‑safety priorities.
