THIBODAUX — A Houma teen was arrested and charged with underage DWI for allegedly crashing into a parked car near downtown Thibodaux early Thursday morning, moments after sending a text message on his phone, police said.
Brandon Boudreaux, 18, 103 Tigerlilly Drive, is believed to be the first person ticketed in Thibodaux since the state Legislature enacted a law Aug. 15 banning texting while driving, Thibodaux Police spokesman Joey Quinn said.
Boudreaux is also charged with underage DWI and careless operation after he allegedly struck the back of a parked car on Jackson Street in Thibodaux. No one was injured as a result of the crash.
Boudreaux failed field sobriety and blood-alcohol tests prior to his arrest, police said. He is free from jail on a $350 bond. He could face a fine of $350 for crashing his car while texting, according to the new law.
Thibodaux officer Greg Portier wrote in his incident report that Boudreaux told officers he was texting on his cell phone while driving when his passenger yelled at him to watch out for the parked car. Boudreaux tried to steer left to avoid a collision, but failed.
The crash is an example of why texting while driving is so dangerous, officials said, because takes drivers’ eyes off the road.
“That split second you take your eyes off the road things can happen very quickly,” Troop C spokesman Bryan Zeringue said. “That’s why we suggest you pull off somewhere safe if you have to read something.”
A parking lot is preferable to the shoulder of the road in such situations, Zeringue added.
State Sen. Julie Quinn, R-Metairie, proposed the text-messaging ban for drivers.
Fines range from a max of $175 for the first offense to $500 for each subsequent offense. If it is determined that the driver was texting at the time of a crash, the fine is doubled.
