Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has announced new tools aimed at enforcing the state's "no texting" law.
A 2010 law made texting while driving punishable by a fine. Speaking in Louisville Wednesday, Beshear said that hasn't been enough of a deterrent. Starting in a few months, the Transportation Cabinet will take three points off the licenses of drivers caught while texting behind the wheel.
The new three-point texting penalty was announced as transportation leaders and emergency responders gathered for an annual meeting. The state can suspend the licenses of drives who incur 12 penalty points within a two-year period.
For drivers under 18, the threshold is seven points.
According to the Governor's office, more than 5,300 crashes in Kentucky last year were caused by driver distraction.