By now, most Pittsburgh residents are aware of Pennsylvania's new law that makes it illegal to text while driving. The law is slated to take affect this week and pertains not only to handheld devices, but tablets and laptops that may be in the front seat as well. As is the case anytime new regulations begin to be enforced, there are a lot of questions.

Perhaps the most common question regarding the new law is what the consequences are for a violation. Though the ticket tied to the violation is only $50, a driver caught texting while driving would end up paying more. This is because of extra fees and court costs tied to the ticket. Good news for the driver is that he or she would not receive any points on their license.

Another question that Pennsylvania residents are likely concerned about is when they might receive a ticket for texting and driving. Because texting while driving is considered what is known as a primary offense, law enforcement can pull a driver for the violation without witnessing any other violations.

Some drivers are probably wondering if there is any other punishment besides a ticket for driving and texting. Anyone worried about police officers confiscating their phones can relax. Taking the phone is not a part of law enforcement's traffic stop.

As many likely suspect, the goal of the new law is to reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents that occur as a result of distracted driving. Whether the law will have the desired effect remains to be seen.

Source: Yahoo! "Pennsylvania Texting While Driving Ban Set to Take Effect," Jason Gallagher, March 7, 2012