Distracted-driver bill advances
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HARRISBURG -- Now that the state House has given overwhelming approval to a bill prohibiting Pennsylvania motorists from gabbing on hand-held cell phones or sending text messages, the focus on the road-safety measure swings to the Senate.
The part of House Bill 2070 that outlaws texting while driving should be a relatively easy sell. Erik Arneson, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware, noted Tuesday that the Senate enacted its own ban on texting, Senate Bill 143, last year.
"That portion of the bill is something we agree with in concept," he said. However, the jury is still out on whether, or how quickly, the Senate will go along with the House's ban on the pervasive practice of drivers talking on hand-held cell phones.
The bill also would prohibit drivers from using Smart phones, personal digital assistants or portable computers while their vehicle is in motion.
The next step now is for the bill to be discussed by the Senate Transportation Committee, headed by Sen. John Rafferty, R-Montgomery. It isn't known when that will happen.
The driving safety bill, sponsored by Rep. Joe Markosek, D-Monroeville, easily passed the House on a 189-6 vote Tuesday. If the Senate goes along and the bill is signed by Gov. Ed Rendell, police could stop and cite drivers they see using hand-held cell phones or sending text messages while behind the wheel.
The bill also prohibits "junior drivers," 16- and 17-year-olds, from using any kind of cell phone or other "wireless interactive communications device" while operating a vehicle. Drivers 18 and older would be allowed to use hands-free cell phones to have conversations.
"We are all just one text [message] from eternity," said Mr. Markosek. But he said the Legislature can only do so much, and urged motorists to exercise caution.He said his constituents have been nearly unanimous in pushing for the ban on hand-held cell phones and texting while driving, which a number of other states already have enacted.
First Published January 27, 2010 12:00 am
