JUNEAU — The state House Transportation Committee on Thursday approved a ban on cellphone use by minors while driving, sending the measure onto another legislative panel.
Previously attempted bans have fallen short, but Anchorage Democratic Rep. Berta Gardner said her proposal in HB128 stands a better chance because she focuses on drivers younger than 18 and only on talking while driving.
“I think we can build a consensus about cellphones with minors,” Gardner said. “There’s a disproportionate chance of accidents, injury and death with young drivers. This isn’t a tough one to support.”
Before sending Gardner’s bill to the Judiciary Committee, there was contention over the fact that it only called for officers to issue citations if someone is stopped for another violation.
“I do have a problem making a law where (officers) can’t stop somebody,” said Rep. Peggy Wilson, R-Wrangell. “Why have it if you can’t enforce it?”
Gardner said the point in her approach is that it’s impossible to tell someone’s age while they are driving, so it’s better to keep adults from getting pulled over and hassled for their identification.
Broader bans on cellphone use while driving have stalled in committee, and that type of restriction is not expected to move this session. But one proposal that would affirm the state’s ban on texting while driving has cleared two House committees and now awaits a hearing in the Finance Committee.
HB255 is intended to fix a law created in 2008, when lawmakers thought they banned the practice. One magistrate called the language in that law too vague to enforce and said legislators should explicitly ban “texting” if that was their intent.
The state is in the process of appealing the decision, but Reps. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, and Bill Thomas, R-Haines, worked together on a bill they say addresses the problem, instead of waiting to see how the court process plays out.
Their suggestion is a ban of “reading or typing a text message” while driving that avoids other questions of cellphone while driving.
Comments (16)
Add commentBan um all!
A roll over on Egan, a weaving SUV, and a pick up barreling out of a parking lot were all near misses for me in the last 48 hours. And what did they all have in common? Every one of those drivers was chatting on a cell phone at the time.
Don’t get me wrong...I KNOW YOU can chat and drive at the same time. YOU are a marvel of multi tasking talent. It's the other 5 or 6 in my general proximity that can't talk and drive that I'm worried about.
But hey...we can't make a law that bans your cell phone because YOU might have to wait a few minutes to talk with your honey or take a call from your boss. Never mind my life is in danger while your selfish needs take priority.
They all need to be banned. If you wouldn't chat it up during your road test...how is OK to use the device as a matter of course?
Mama T not to mention the
Mama T not to mention the ones that drive at 40mph on Egan in the fast lane because they are way more focused on their conversation than the 30 cars behind them. Ban ALL cell phone conversations while driving!!
How about Ryan West? Here is
How about Ryan West? Here is a young person who caused a horrific accident and took the life of another young person. They were intoxicated, under age, and driving. There should be a law to protect the public from under age kids drinking and driving! Oh, there already is one? But how could this be? I thought passing a law to make it illegal would solve everything and it would all of a sudden be safe for me to drive my Subaru 40 mph and weave in and out of traffic aimlessly? You mean I might have to learn to drive? And that people will still continue to do illegal behavior? Guess I will have to continue to have a joint when I get home to calm my nerves from the horrific 9 mile commute during "Rush Hour" in Juneau! Why cant these people just obey the laws!
Let's not stop there, adults who are on cell while driving
Let's not stop there, let's get those adults who are on the cell
phone while driving too! They are no different than teens who are also on their cell phones, both drive erratically and not paying attention to their driving.
Let's ban cell phone entirely while out on the road!
As for medical emergency or cabs a different story.
@kpawsuh
Kids were killed in an Ohio school even though there are strict rules about bringing guns to school.
Still I think they should ban cell phone use in cars across the board. Teens, middle aged or senors dont need to use the phone while driving. If you are that important that phone use is a must while in a car, you probably qualify for a chauffeur.
In Washington, they banned
In Washington, they banned cell phones while driving. Everyone still flies along chatting away. All it did was give PD another thing to throw at you when you get pulled over. And the ones that do follow the law are even worse. I have seen many times where someone pulled off to the side of the highway in the emergency lane to answer their call, then hang up and merge from 0 into 80 mph traffic. I would argue these folks are a much larger hazard.
I use a headset often and
I use a headset often and don't find it any more distracting than putting on my lipstick and mascara while I steer with my knee. My chauffeur left me for my supermodel wife. I hope he is happy.....
I think children shouldn't be able to operate a motor vehicle without their parents supervision until they are 18.
Kpawsuh
Ryan West is not underage - he's 26. Still - drinking and driving is illegal and dangerous no matter what age you are!
@L.M.
Just because you are not a mature adult who know how to talk and drive, doesn't mean every other adult is just like you.
I mean, really, quit trolling.
It illegal for a minor to buy
It illegal for a minor to buy cigs too. So JPD should stop every kids that they see smoking, cite them, find out where they got them and fine that person too. Sooo many rules out there not being enforced, so little time. I say we just have the police put ankle bracelets on all of us just to make sure we arent breaking any rules. Ooooh! And video surveillance too! Think of how safe we all could be! There are just oodles of dangerous activities we could outlaw! Why stop at cell phones, just outlaw driving, smoking, drinking, eating fast food, the list just goes on and on!
teen cell phone ban while driving
NO NEW LAWS, NO NEW TAXES!
It is ridiculous to ban teens from talking while driving; as they will then text and have no eyes on the road or hands on the wheel!
Every close call I have had of either almost being hit or run off the road was by adult drivers, not watching out for my small car or an adult on their cell phone and wandering. Never once by a teenager; but too many to count, by adults.
We don't need new laws; we need better self regulating and awareness, perhaps through media. I have actually caught up with someone, who almost got me, and gave them the evil eye and shook my fingure at them. The look they gave back, let me know they got the point!
Yeah, that'll work.
Yeah, that'll work. Self-regulation. It's worked flawlessly in the past--one wonders why laws were even invented in the first place when we're all SO good at behaving?
My point is, we don't even
My point is, we don't even enforce the laws we have. We wont even talk about the judicial system. Why enact one more law that they are already saying they wont be able to enforce?
I really think it's time for
I really think it's time for the legislature as a whole to grow a set of balls and pass laws against using a cell phone while driving that has a penalty that people will take seriously. Make the law enforceable as well.
Personally, I could care less if somebody wants to do something dangerous. I had no problem with Anderson Cooper getting into the ocean and swimming around a bunch of great white sharks. I saw that on TV the other day. He wasn't putting others into danger. However, people who yap on their cell phones while driving are a proven danger to others.
litmus test
If Juneau drivers had enough situational awareness to say:
1-Move to right lane when you are slower
2-Use turn signals
3-Look prior to merging instead of after (to assess the damage you caused)
...then the discussion could open up for adding an additional distraction. But until then, I support this ban.
why only minors? not smart.
I don't see the problem. Here in CA cell phone use by ANYONE is banned and an automatic pull over. It definitely helps lower traffic accidents and save lives of adults and minors.