At TicketFit, our traffic ticket lawyer has represented thousands of cases. And while speeding is an obvious way to get a ticket, you may be wondering if using your Apple Watch while driving is illegal in Florida.

The answer will depend on whether using an Apple Watch while driving is considered texting under Florida law.

Florida Texting While Driving Law Explained

According to the Florida Ban on Texting While Driving Law, it is illegal to drive “while manually typing or entering multiple letters, numbers, symbols, or other characters into a wireless communications device or while sending or reading data on such a device for the purpose of non-voice interpersonal communication, including, but not limited to, communication methods known as texting, e-mailing, and instant messaging.”

Although the term “wireless communications device” is defined as as a handheld device, it is reasonable to believe that an Apple Watch — with many features of a smart phone — would fall under this definition.

As such, if a police officer believes your were texting on your Apple Watch while driving, you would be breaking the law and issued a traffic ticket.

Exemptions to the Florida Texting While Driving Law

The texting law does exclude some cases. For example, if the driver was:

• Reporting an emergency or criminal activity
• Receiving safety-related messages, including emergency, traffic, or weather alerts
• Using the device for navigation purposes, or
• Conducting wireless interpersonal communication that does not require manual entry keys or reading text messages except to activate, deactivate or initiate a feature or function.

So if you were using your Apple Watch for any of the valid reasons above, you should be okay!

Our Florida Traffic Ticket Attorney Can Help You

Don’t risk getting a traffic ticket, or worse, endangering others, keep your hands on the wheel.

However, if you are still issued a traffic ticket in Florida, don’t panic! Our traffic ticket lawyer can help. Call TicketFit now at (305) 775-3720 or email us for a free consultation. We would be happy to help!