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Boca Raton council backs state hands‑free driving bill after survivors urge action
Summary
The Boca Raton City Council unanimously approved a resolution supporting state legislation to require hands‑free phone use while driving after two speakers who lost family members to distracted drivers urged the city to press legislators to act.
The Boca Raton City Council on Feb. 25 unanimously adopted Resolution No. 31 20 25 supporting state legislation to require hands‑free phone use while driving.
The resolution was introduced at the request of Deputy Mayor Drucker and drew emotional public testimony from two advocates who framed the change as a life‑saving measure. Emily Slosberg King, who said she is a former legislator and the outreach coordinator for Dory Saves Lives, told the council her twin sister was killed in a crash and urged the city to back House Bill 501. “By passing this resolution in support of hands free legislation, the city of Boca Raton can send a powerful message to our state leaders,” she said.
Nut graf: Council members framed the resolution as a public‑safety statement rather than a new local law. The vote sends a formal request to Tallahassee that Boca Raton supports statewide expansion of hands‑free restrictions beyond Florida’s current texting ban.
Council discussion and public testimony: Slosberg King described statewide crash and fatality statistics and cited industry analysis that driver device interaction rose 17.8% between 2020 and 2023. She said Florida remains among the nation’s leaders in pedestrian and cyclist deaths and urged passage of House Bill 501. Demetrius Branca, who identified himself as an advocate whose son was killed by a distracted driver, told the council the current law is “unenforceable” and urged broader action.
Deputy Mayor Drucker framed the council’s role as supporting state action to improve public safety; staff confirmed the resolution asks state lawmakers to strengthen current restrictions. The council voted 5–0 to adopt the resolution.
What the resolution does and what follows: The adopted resolution is a formal statement of support; it does not create a local ordinance banning handheld device use. If state lawmakers act, enforcement and penalties would depend on the text of any state law and implementing rules.
Ending: With the 5–0 vote, Boca Raton joins other municipalities urging Tallahassee to consider legislation proponents say would reduce distracted‑driving crashes. The city’s action is a policy position intended to influence state lawmakers rather than an immediate change to local traffic enforcement.
