Use of hand-held mobile telephones while driving 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 specifically prohibits, with certain exceptions, a person from driving while composing or sending an electronic text message. Persons who violate either of these prohibitions may be required to forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $400.

This bill prohibits a person from driving while using a hand-held mobile telephone. The prohibition does not apply to any of the following: 1) operators of authorized emergency vehicles; 2) use of certain emergency alert or vehicle monitoring devices; 3) use of global positioning system devices; 4) certain amateur radio operators; 5) certain use of hands-free telephones; and 6) use in response to an emergency. Persons who violate this prohibition are subject to the same penalty as for inattentive driving or driving while composing or sending an electronic text message.

Who's behind it

6 lawmakers are its authors⁠. All 6 are Democrats.