From: J. Steele Olmstead <xxxxxx@JSteeleLaw.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 8, 2019 3:03 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: Can you PLEASE ask your members to call the Governor DeSantis?

Hi, I'm Steele Olmstead. I am a member of the Board of Directors of Florida Bicycle Association (FBA) (the Gainesville Cycling Club is a member and supporter of the FBA). I'm also a member of the Florida Justice Association (FJA) ad hoc committee on bicycle safety, the trial lawyers group. 

I am reaching out to you to ask a big favor of you. FBA and I wouldn't ask if it wasn't a really important. We need to have as many people as possible to call or write the governor in support of a critical safety bill awaiting signature on his desk now.

For the last 5 years, both the FBA and the FJA have been trying to reduce the wholesale slaughter of people on bicycles and walking in the state of Florida. As a personal injury lawyer myself, I have seen in the past 10 years the number one cause for crashes by cars and trucks is from distracted driving caused by cell phone use. Even if you don't ride on the road, this bill will protect you.

We have had several unsuccessful, frustrating attempts in the past 5 years. Finally this year, the FBA and the coalition have gotten the bill making cell phone use a "primary offense." A primary offense means a police officer doesn't have to see another offense to allow that officer could stop the driver. (this used to be the case with seatbelts). That's why in the past 10 years you have seen teenagers, businessmen, businesswomen, millennials, and all manner of motorists looking at their phones while they're driving down the roads, driving vehicles that can kill, maim and ruin lives. This is incredibly dangerous, incredibly damaging and causes the majority of crashes, deaths, and injuries to people on bikes and walking.

This critical safety bill has now been put on Governor DeSantis's desk, but he needs to hear from us. We are the ones who benefit from this. As I explain when I speak to clubs, county commissions, city councils: "To a car a crash is a dent, to us it's a disaster."

You can empower law enforcement officers to stop texting and driving by contacting the Governor TODAY. The fines are not significant (the law makes it a nonmoving violation). If this bill is signed, Florida law enforcement no longer needs to grind their teeth when a driver staring at her cell phone is traveling down our roads in Florida, endangering the rest of us.

The Florida Bicycle Association is contacting all the bicycling clubs who are members and past supporters to ask their members to contact Governor DeSantis There are 2 ways:

1. An email to xxxxxx@eog.myflorida.com; or

2. A friendly call to the governor at his office. His number is 850–488–7146.

It doesn't need to be a long message. Having your club member just call up or email the following: "Governor DeSantis I am (calling/writing) you to request you sign the "Texting While driving Bill" (HB 107). Forty-three other states allow law enforcement to stop texting drivers and have made their roads safer.  Please make Florida's road safer and sign this bill. Thank you."

If you could, please forward this email to your friends or write one of your own and ask them to contact the governor. You could finally bring some sanity to Florida roads and stop cell phone use by people driving cars.

I would be happy to talk to you on the phone and answer any questions. Please give me a call on my number.

J. Steele Olmstead

J. Steele Olmstead, P. A.

1-800-535-3002
            __o
         _-\<,_
        (*)/   (*)

Member, Board of Directors

Member, Board of Directors