AB 131

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.