DUNCANSVILLE, BLAIR COUNTY - It has been a little more than a year since Pennsylvania banned texting while driving.
Right around 1,300 tickets were given in the entire state last year, and those who give out those tickets say it's not an easy law to enforce.
"I don't think it's made a dent at all. I still see the same number of people texting and driving today as I did two years ago," Amber Dick of Martinsburg says.
Martinsburg native Amber Dick hasn't noticed a change in people's driving habits, and at times she fears for her safety.
"It scares me having three small children in the vehicle with me because at anytime someone can be texting and lose control of their vehicle," Dick says.
According to AAA, more than 1,300 tickets for texting while driving were given in the state, but in our area that number was minimal.
12 tickets were issued in Somerset County, 9 in Blair County and 8 in Indiana County.
Law enforcement officials say spotting drivers texting isn't the problem, proving it is.
"You still see a lot of people doing it. They'll use the excuse that they're dialing people, but some people will be honest and we appreciate that," Duncansville Police Chief Jim Ott says.
Ott says he'd like to see the state ban phone use in vehicles all together.
"The concept that it's safe to text and drive at the same time is ludicrous. It's as dangerous as an impaired driver at times," Ott says.
And some drivers say a $50 fine isn't enough to stop the problem.
"$50 you can make that in a day. I think it should be a $300 or $400 fine," Dick says.
According to PennDOT, the number of distracted driving fatalities stayed about the same the last two years with 59 in 2011 and 57 in 2012.
Right around 1,300 tickets were given in the entire state last year, and those who give out those tickets say it's not an easy law to enforce.
"I don't think it's made a dent at all. I still see the same number of people texting and driving today as I did two years ago," Amber Dick of Martinsburg says.
Martinsburg native Amber Dick hasn't noticed a change in people's driving habits, and at times she fears for her safety.
"It scares me having three small children in the vehicle with me because at anytime someone can be texting and lose control of their vehicle," Dick says.
According to AAA, more than 1,300 tickets for texting while driving were given in the state, but in our area that number was minimal.
12 tickets were issued in Somerset County, 9 in Blair County and 8 in Indiana County.
Law enforcement officials say spotting drivers texting isn't the problem, proving it is.
"You still see a lot of people doing it. They'll use the excuse that they're dialing people, but some people will be honest and we appreciate that," Duncansville Police Chief Jim Ott says.
Ott says he'd like to see the state ban phone use in vehicles all together.
"The concept that it's safe to text and drive at the same time is ludicrous. It's as dangerous as an impaired driver at times," Ott says.
And some drivers say a $50 fine isn't enough to stop the problem.
"$50 you can make that in a day. I think it should be a $300 or $400 fine," Dick says.
According to PennDOT, the number of distracted driving fatalities stayed about the same the last two years with 59 in 2011 and 57 in 2012.
