Senate approves ban on texting while driving
By Jack Brammer – jbrammer@herald-leader.com
FRANKFORT – The state Senate approved a bill Tuesday to ban text messaging while driving and prohibit drivers under 18 from using a cell phone while driving.
The vote was 27-6, with some members questioning whether police could enforce such a law.
The sponsor of Senate Bill 23, Sen. Denise Harper Angel, D-Louisville, said the measure sends the message that texting while driving is dangerous. A person texting while driving is 23 times more likely to be involved in a car accident, she said.
Sen. Tom Jensen, R-London, said the bill has “a minimum penalty but it tries to instill in people that this is a dumb thing to do.”
If the bill becomes law, any person who violates it prior to Jan. 1, 2011, will receive a courtesy warning. After then, a violator will be fined $25 for the first offense and $50 for each subsequent offense. All fines will be subject to court costs.
Sen. Ray Jones, D-Pikeville, said the bill will save lives, but Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said enforcement of it will be “dubious at best.”
A side benefit from the bill, said Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, is that it will give police another reason to stop drivers they suspect are involved in drugs. “All of us interested in drug interdiction should be interested in this,” he said.
The bill now goes to the House for its consideration. However, the House approved a similar proposal, House Bill 43, in early February. That measure has since been stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Filed Under: KY General Assembly
About the Author: John Stamper is the accountability editor for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Monticello, Ky., he has been with the Herald-Leader in a variety of roles since graduating from Western Kentucky University in 2000. Reach him at jstamper@herald-leader.com
Courtesy warning, $25 fine, and $50 fine for putting others lives in danger? Oh yeah, sending a real message. There goes your allowance for the week!
At least its a step in the right direction.
If they are going to make it illegal to text while driving (it is an unsafe act) then eating, smoking, putting on makeup and holding your little lap dog, etc. needs to be added to the bill.
I don’t have a strong opinion on this issue, but I do have a problem with David Williams statement about police having another reason to be able to pull people over. Its just rings odd to me. Maybe its late and I’m just tired of this day. What does texting have to do with illegal drug usage?
i concur w/t Bill! That’s what got my attention- alternative motives!
SO SICK of #*%n police, LOOKING for “crimes” to maintain their #S/ stats!
What ever happened to just PROTECT & SERVE?!
Our POLITICIANS/ lawmakers S-U-C-K!
“A side benefit from the bill,,,, is that it will give POLICE another REASON TO STOP DRIVERS they SUSPECT are involved in DRUGS.
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