Houston Mayor Annise Parker and local rap star Bun B crossed arms and teamed up for a video promoting the "It Can Wait, Houston" PSA campaign. Bun B brought the street cred by comparing texting & driving with playing Russian roulette. He also was on hand April 2 at the mayor's splashy launch for the texting campaign, linked to the AT&T national program. Parker says she'll back a Houston ordinance banning text messaging while driving if a statewide law doesn't result from the 2013 legislative session. Last time around, the governor vetoed a Texas texting measure OK'd by lawmakers, and appears ready to do so again. Parker has been in office since the beginning of 2010, so we'll take her vow … [Read more...]
N.J., Maryland lawmakers crack down
March 21, 2013 by 1 Comment
Legislators in New Jersey and Maryland have moved to significantly toughen their state's electronic distracted driving laws. In New Jersey, what appears to be "the toughest hands-free cell phone law in the nation" is closer to enactment as the Legislature sent a distracted driving measure to Gov. Chris Christie. In Maine, a bill that gives primary enforcement status to the current wireless communications law has advanced from the House to the Senate. The bill also hikes fines for texting & talking on handheld cell phones while driving to as much as $500. First-time distracted driving offenders in New Jersey would be looking at fines between $200 and $400 under the plan sent to Gov. Chris … [Read more...]
Idaho outlaws texting while driving
April 6, 2012 by 3 Comments
Text messaging while behind the wheel will no longer be permitted in Idaho as of July 1. Gov. Butch Otter signed the Legislature's distracted driving measure April 5. The distracted driving law will receive primary enforcement -- police can stop and cite offenders for that reason alone -- but offenses are not moving violations. Also, there are no points assessed against the driver's license. The fine for texting & driving in Idaho will be $85. Idaho became the 37th state to outlaw text messaging while driving, following West Virginia by only two days. West Virginia also banned use of handheld cell phones while driving, but in Idaho a similar plan (from the Senate) was ignored during the … [Read more...]
West Va. bans texting, cell phones
March 10, 2012 by 4 Comments
"I want West Virginians to remain free from distracted drivers," Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin told lawmakers back in January. They listened. The governor's advocacy proved to be the key to breaking the state's long deadlock over distracted driving, with the Legislature approving his plan to outlaw text messaging and the use of handheld cell phones for those operating motor vehicles. (Update: Tombin signed the West Virginia distracted driving legislation into law on April 3. This article originally posted March 10, 2012.) As time expired on the legislative session late March 10, the House and Senate reached a compromise on their dueling versions of Tomblin's bill. The Mountain State's distracted … [Read more...]
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