The use of cellular telephones and other devices while operating certain motor vehicles transporting children and providing a penalty

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Current law prohibits inattentive driving of a motor vehicle, which means that a driver of a motor vehicle may not be so engaged or occupied as to interfere with the safe driving of the vehicle. Current law also prohibits a person from driving while composing or sending an electronic text message or an e-mail message. However, there are various exceptions to this prohibition.

This bill generally prohibits a person operating a school bus or another vehicle transporting pupils from using a cellular telephone or other wireless telecommunications device while the school bus or other vehicle is on the roadway or loading or unloading passengers, if the school bus or other vehicle is transporting passengers, not including a driver's assistant. This prohibition does not apply if a cellular telephone, or a wireless telecommunications device capable of real-time voice communications, is used to make an emergency "911" telephone call or communicate with specified emergency responders or service providers regarding an emergency situation. A person who violates this prohibition must forfeit $200 for the first offense and $500 for each subsequent offense occurring within two years. In addition, for the second or subsequent offense within two years, the Department of Transportation must cancel the "S" endorsement, authorizing the operation of school buses, to the person's operator's license and the person may not reinstate the "S" endorsement to his or her operator's license for six months.

Who's behind it

15 lawmakers are its authors⁠. 10 are Republicans and 5 are Democrats.

5 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.