Legislative Coverage

Senate Committee Approves Teen Driver Cell Phone Ban

A bill that would ban drivers under 18 years old from talking on cell phones while driving passed out of a Senate committee today, though not without opposition.

(KCPW News) A bill that would ban drivers under 18 years old from talking on cell phones while driving passed out of a Senate committee today, though not without opposition.Ā  Republican Senator Stuart Adams, who eventually voted against the bill, told the committee he was torn because he wants to keep people safe, ā€œbut I also don’t know that we can regulate inappropriate behavior totally when you’re talking about eating a hamburger, or turning on a cell phone, or doing your makeup, or fixing your glasses.Ā  It’s hard to regulate good behaviorā€

Senate Bill 128 does allow minor drivers to use cell phones in emergency situations, when reporting criminal activity, or while speaking to their parents.Ā  A violation would carry a $50 fine, but the state’s Driver License Division would not be able to assess points against a driver’s record.

Rolayne Fairclough of AAA says at worst, the legislation will help parents when they speak to their teens about driving safely.

ā€œIt’s very easy for a parent to say ā€˜it’s the law’ when they are trying to enforce those rules.Ā  And so I think that’s exactly what we are looking at today with this cell phone ban,ā€ said Fairclough.

Fairclough added the bill provides another remedy to help teen drivers through their first few years of driving.Ā  The bill passed out of a Senate Committee this afternoon on a 3-to-2 vote. This is the third year in a row Senate Minority Leader Ross Romero has attempted to pass a cell phone ban for teen drivers.


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