Wisconsin's governor signed into law a ban on texting while driving, making it the 25th state to outlaw the practice. Jim Doyle joined a growing line of governors who enacted distracted driving laws this legislative season. Right before him was Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, whose texting-ban signing ceremony was broadcast live on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Wisconsin's new distracted driving law (from Assembly Bill 496) provides for fines ranging from $20 to $400. The offense is targeted for primary enforcement, which means law office can stop violators for that reason alone. Enforcement … [Read more...]
Archives for 2010
‘Oprah’ carries Michigan text bill signing
April 29, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Gov. Jennifer Granholm had been expected to sign Michigan lawmakers' ban on text messaging while driving. No one figured she'd be doing it on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Granholm signed the bill in downtown Detriot, during a rally shown live on the second live "Oprah" special dedicated to the dangers of distracted driving. "Thanks for your leadership," the governor said to the talk show host. The "Oprah" program also broadcast parts of no-cell-phone rallies in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Boston and Washington, D.C. Winfrey declared April 30 "National No Phone Zone Day," named after her distracted … [Read more...]
When legislators attack (texting bills)
April 27, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Two lawmakers have dug in their heels on texting while driving legislation, effectively killing texting bills in Florida and Alabama. In Florida, the chairwoman of the House Finance and Tax Council says the primary bill that would ban texting and driving is "intellectually dishonest." She refuses to allow a vote on its merits. Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, says HB 41 is "not stalled. It's dead." (HB 41 is the companion to SB 448, which is moving ahead in the Senate.) Bogdanoff's beef seems to be that the bill ban behaviors that she says are already covered under state careless … [Read more...]
‘Erica’s Law’ goes to Congress
April 22, 2010 by Leave a Comment
States that don't ban cell phone use by drivers in school zones would lose federal funding under a bill proposed by Colorado congresswoman Betsy Markey. "Erica's Law" is named after 9-year-old Erica Forney, who was killed by a driver using a cell phone. The girl was biking home after school. Erica lived in Markey's district of Fort Collins. Several bills are pending in Congress that would tie distracted driving laws and federal highway funding, including one sponsored by West Virginia's Sen. Jay Rockefeller. Colorado's ban on text messaging went into effect in December. A hands-free … [Read more...]
Kentucky, Nebraska go texting-free
April 19, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Welcome Kentucky and Nebraska to the club: They're the 22nd and 23rd states to ban text messaging while driving. The House and Senate approved Kentucky's ban on texting while driving April 1. Two weeks later, the bill became law. No drama there: Gov. Steve Beshear banned text messaging for state employees in 2009. He previously called the texting plan (HB 415) "a common-sense bill to protect all Kentucky drivers." Kentucky's new distracted driving rules also outlaw the use of personal communications devices by motorists under the age of 18 with learner’s permits. Rep. Tom Riner, sponsor … [Read more...]
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