Bill would ban teens from driving while texting, talking on cell
By Whitney Woodward Journal Des Moines Bureau | Posted: Tuesday, February 05, 2008
DES MOINES -- Teens would be forbidden from talking on cell phones while driving, and all motorists could be banned from sending text messages when behind the wheel, under a proposal lawmakers discussed Monday.
In the bill's current form, drivers who hold intermediate licenses or special minor's licenses would be barred from text messaging or talking on their phones while operating a vehicle.
Violators could be hit with a simple misdemeanor and a $30 fine. The infraction would also count against intermediate license-holders, who need to have 12 months of violation-free driving to qualify for a full license.
"This is a public safety issue," said Rep. Swati Dandekar, D-Marion, who chaired the House subcommittee meeting to discuss the proposal. During that meeting, lawmakers including Dandekar expressed interest in extending the text messaging prohibition to all drivers, and mandating that adult drivers use hands-free devices for phone conversations.
"We are considering all the options," Dandekar said. The group will meet next week, where members will evaluate other states' laws and car accident data before deciding whether or not to support a ban, and what such a ban would entail.
At least 17 states and the District of Columbia, have enacted phone use restrictions for young drivers, according to the Governor's Highway Safety Association. Last May, Washington became the first state to ban all drivers from sending text messages.
The Iowa bill's sponsor, Rep. McKinley Bailey, D-Webster City, said he was spurred to introduce the bill after a fatal car crash in his hometown, which was caused by a teenage driver who was talking on her cell phone. Bailey said keeping phones out of teen drivers' hands would minimize their distractions and make Iowa's roads safer.
Bailey said he would support broadening the restriction to other adult drivers if research shows that phones also pose a distraction to adults. "I think the intent would be if you're driving, and you need to look at it and it's calling to you, to pull over," Bailey said.
The ban, as written, would allow law enforcement officers to pull over motorists who appear to be using their phones and look young enough to hold an intermediate license. Marty Ryan, a lobbyist with the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, said he feared the prohibition would amount to a "he said, she said" case between the officers and alleged violators.
Ryan said he feared that young-looking motorists would be targeted unfairly. He urged lawmakers, at a minimum, to change the bill to allow officers only to stop motorists who were breaking another law while using their mobile -- such as speeding while texting. "The intent of the bill is perhaps noble, in trying to save some teenagers from going through the same thing that happened in Webster City, (but) this is probably not the answer," Ryan said.
Whitney Woodward can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or whitney.woodward@lee.net.
In the bill's current form, drivers who hold intermediate licenses or special minor's licenses would be barred from text messaging or talking on their phones while operating a vehicle.
Violators could be hit with a simple misdemeanor and a $30 fine. The infraction would also count against intermediate license-holders, who need to have 12 months of violation-free driving to qualify for a full license.
"This is a public safety issue," said Rep. Swati Dandekar, D-Marion, who chaired the House subcommittee meeting to discuss the proposal. During that meeting, lawmakers including Dandekar expressed interest in extending the text messaging prohibition to all drivers, and mandating that adult drivers use hands-free devices for phone conversations.
"We are considering all the options," Dandekar said. The group will meet next week, where members will evaluate other states' laws and car accident data before deciding whether or not to support a ban, and what such a ban would entail.
At least 17 states and the District of Columbia, have enacted phone use restrictions for young drivers, according to the Governor's Highway Safety Association. Last May, Washington became the first state to ban all drivers from sending text messages.
The Iowa bill's sponsor, Rep. McKinley Bailey, D-Webster City, said he was spurred to introduce the bill after a fatal car crash in his hometown, which was caused by a teenage driver who was talking on her cell phone. Bailey said keeping phones out of teen drivers' hands would minimize their distractions and make Iowa's roads safer.
Bailey said he would support broadening the restriction to other adult drivers if research shows that phones also pose a distraction to adults. "I think the intent would be if you're driving, and you need to look at it and it's calling to you, to pull over," Bailey said.
The ban, as written, would allow law enforcement officers to pull over motorists who appear to be using their phones and look young enough to hold an intermediate license. Marty Ryan, a lobbyist with the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, said he feared the prohibition would amount to a "he said, she said" case between the officers and alleged violators.
Ryan said he feared that young-looking motorists would be targeted unfairly. He urged lawmakers, at a minimum, to change the bill to allow officers only to stop motorists who were breaking another law while using their mobile -- such as speeding while texting. "The intent of the bill is perhaps noble, in trying to save some teenagers from going through the same thing that happened in Webster City, (but) this is probably not the answer," Ryan said.
Whitney Woodward can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or whitney.woodward@lee.net.
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electrotech wrote on Feb 8, 2009 8:45 AM:
imposed on drunk drivers. "
Questioner wrote on Jun 20, 2008 4:43 AM:
More effective would be to pass laws requiring that cell phone manufacturers place a device that prevents a user from texting or using the internet when the cell phone starts moving a certain land speed. Most cell phones have GPS trackers included; the GPS tracker could be used to monitor a cell phones land speed. Once the land speed exceeds 20 mph, texting/email/internet use is blocked. The technology exists; requiring its implementation while concurrently making it a crime for everyone to text while driving would reduce the number of people texting while driving. "
Reader wrote on Apr 28, 2008 3:20 PM:
Reader wrote on Feb 6, 2008 3:43 PM:
Sparky wrote on Feb 5, 2008 3:59 PM: