Texting while driving (Photo credit: mrJasonWeaver)
During this year’s session, the Mississippi Legislature could take another shot at banning texting while driving.
Several lawmakers have drafted bills that would make it illegal for drivers to send texts from behind the wheel. No action has been taken on the bills, but they are expected to gain traction in the coming month.
The texting-while-driving ban has been defeated each time it has come up. Two years ago, the Legislature approved a scaled-back ban for a small group of drivers – teens with intermediate licenses.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 35 states and Washington, D.C., ban texting while driving. Several more place restrictions only on certain ages and specific categories, such as school bus drivers. Nine states and the nation’s capital ban any hand-held use of cellphones.
Sen. Billy Hudson, R-Hattiesburg, has introduced one of the stricter bills – those that would require motorists to use hands-free devices for any cellphone use.
“There are just so many bad things that can happen when drivers are distracted by their phones,” he said.
Violators would face up to to $500 or $1,000 fines if they cause wrecks while driving.
Others have proposed more general texting bans, but Hudson said his issue with that legislation is whether such laws can be enforced.
“(My version) can be enforced,” he said.
via Texting-while-driving ban may gain traction | The Clarion-Ledger | clarionledger.com.
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