Arizona: Cell phone laws, legislation
Last updated: July 1, 2010 · Print this report
Cell phone, text messaging news: A Senate plan to ban text messaging while driving was approved March 22 but failed to advance in the House. A similar texting bill by the same sponsor was defeated in a close vote in summer 2009.
Current prohibitions:
- School bus operators may not use cell phones while driving.
- In Phoenix, drivers are prohibited from text messaging.
2010 cell phone, texting legislation (all dead):
SB 1334: Would outlaw texing by all drivers unless a hands-free device or voice-activated function is employed. Fine $50/$200 if an accident occurs. Approved on Feb. 15 by the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Public Debt. Defeated in the full Senate (due to tie vote) on March 2, but then approved on March 22 in a 19-10 vote. Bill “held” in the House until the legislature adjourned April 30. (Melvin-Farley)
HB 2656: Would prohibit restricted license holders under the age of 18 from using cell phones or wireless communications devices such as PDAs while driving. Violators would have restriction period extended by six months regardless of drivers’ age. (Farley)
SB 1067: Seeks to prohibit drivers from viewing video images — includes TV, DVD. Would outlaw installation of these devices where screen can be seen by driver. Approved by the Senate on March 1 and transmitted to the House, where it was approved by the transportation committee. (Nelson)
2010 legislation notes:
Sen. Al Melvin, R-Tucson, returned with legislation (SB 1334, above) calling for a ban on text messaging while driving on Arizona’s roads and highways. The texting bill was shot down in a tie vote on March 2. He asked for the Senate’s reconsideration since as many as eight senators were absent. The texting while driving bill was approved on March 22.
In the 2009 session, Melvin’s Senate Bill 1443 included a provision to ban use of handheld cell phones, but that was stripped out in order to get the texting ban through.Even so, Melvin’s bill failed by two Senate votes.
The Senate’s Republican president and its minority leader both oppose laws against texting while driving. Verizon, Sprint Nextel and AT&T are expected to support texting bans in Arizona.
Phoenix’s ban on texting while driving, enacted in 2007, has resulted in an average of 1.5 tickets per month, as of November 2009. Police claim enforcement of the texting ban is quite difficult.
Coconino County’s supervisors on Feb. 23 shot down a plan from the Board of Health that would have outlawed texting while driving. They backed state efforts to rein in texting while behind the wheel.
2009 legislation:
SB 1443: Would ban text messaging for all drivers in Arizona. (Previous version that cleared committee would have prohibited use of handheld mobile phones.) Rejected by the full Senate on a 15-14 vote held June 22.
HB 2492: Would prohibit text messaging while driving on Arizona roads.
HB 2590: Would outlaw use of handheld phones by drivers under the age of 18. Hands-free operation using a device such as a Bluetooth headset
HB 2191: Seeks to ban driving and talking on cell phones, unless a hands-free accessory is utilized.
2009 legislation notes:
Sen. Al Melvin, R-Tucson, narrowed the scope of his Arizona Senate Bill 1443 to cover only text messaging but it wasn’t enough. The original handheld cell phone ban was approved by the Senate Committee on Public Safety and Human Services on June 17, 2009, but the full Senate rejected even the texting version on June 22.
“It seems hardly a week goes by that we don’t hear of a horrendous accident in the United States involving not just one but multiple loss of life, mostly because of the driver texting,” Melvin said prior to the Senate’s rejection. “That’s the sole motivation here, is to save lives.”
In 2007, a bill seeking to ban all cell phone use while driving failed to advance through the GOP-controlled Legislature. The sponsor was Rep. Tom Prezelski, D-Tucson. Also in 2007, Phoenix banned texting while driving.
2008 cell phone/texting bills
HB 2397: Would have required all drivers to use hands-free devices with cell phones.
HB 2396: Would have banned drivers from texting via a cell phone or PDA.
HB 2398: Would have prohibited drivers with learner’s permits from using cell phones
Both hands on the wheel, what a novel idea or perhaps a free hand which can now apply makeup or use an electric shaver. We can’t always believe that restricting something will make it safer, however there are several people out there who are to immature to be driving in the first place. My personal feeling is that we should ban the act of “nose picking while driving”. Those people are only focused on one thing, and it’s not keeping their hands on the wheel. I can just see it now; Bill HRxxxx1267, preventing nasal contact while the motor vehicle is in motion. Use of a hands free device is mandatory which prevents the use of fingers near the nasal cavity and promotes safe driving practices. Maybe they will think of Kleenex first!
I wish Arizona would just ban all cell use while driving