Quinn'��s bill banning texting while driving passes, awaits governor'��s signature

By Matthew Penix
St. Tammany News
Published on Monday, June 23, 2008 10:07 AM CDT

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The Louisiana Legislature on Friday approved a ban on text-messaging while driving, becoming the third state in America to adopt such a law.

Senate Bill 137 by Julie Quinn, R-Metairie, was approved Friday 70-19 by the House of Representatives with minor amendments.

The Senate then approved those revisions.

The bill now heads to Gov. Bobby Jindal’s desk for his signature, a move considered a formality before the bill becomes law, Quinn said.

“This is becoming a real trend with underage kids, and it needs to stop,” she said, adding she authored the bill after a 17-year-old constituent suffered serious injury when he wrapped his car around a tree while texting.

The unidentified victim is just one of an estimated 20 percent of drivers who send or receive text messages while driving, 66 percent of which are drivers between 18 and 24, according to Matt Sundeen, a spokesman with the National Conference of State Legislators who wrote a brief on texting while driving for Quinn.

“Texting while driving (or TWD) is a relatively new activity,” Sundeen wrote.

But “several high profile accidents have brought new focus to the issue.”

To curb such trends, Quinn’s bill requires first-time violators to pay a fine no more than $175. Second-time violators could pay a fine as high as $500. If texting is the cause of a crash, those fines are doubled, according to the bill.

The House amendments also prohibit inexperienced drivers, including those with learner’s permits, from using cell phones while driving, except for hands free phone devices.

Louisiana now joins Washington and New Jersey in enacting a texting ban.

Local Sens. A.G. Crowe, R-Slidell and Jack Donahue, R-Mandeville, voted in favor of the bill. Sen. Ben Nevers, D-Bogalusa voted against it, according to voting records. Nevers could not be reached for comment.

All area House of Representative members, including Tim Burns, R-Mandeville, Greg Cromer, R-Slidell, John Schroder, R-Covington, Kevin Pearson, R-Slidell and Scott Simon, R-Abita Springs, voted for the bill with amendments.

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Comments

4 comment(s)

Concerned Parent wrote on Jul 15, 2008 12:20 PM:

" I completely agree with the new law. I don't think anyone really grasps the concept of how far it takes to stop your vehicle and how long. If you are trying to read, reply, and/or send a text and someone stops at a light or has to slam on the breaks for an emergency and you are preoccupied then there is little or no chance to avoid hitting them. I have an 11 month old daughter. What helps me is I ask myself, "Could I live with myself if I injured or killed my child....over a stupid text message." "

Ferman wrote on Jun 30, 2008 8:02 AM:

" I think cell phone users with out a hands free/ blue tooth should be band as well as dash mounted dvd players. But I see just as many cops using these things as others so when and for whom do you draw the line? I’ve seen people putting make up on, reading books, newspapers, maps and one time a guy playing a guitar while having his foot on the wheel driving. Just take your live in others hands is what your doing. "

Mary wrote on Jun 24, 2008 9:16 PM:

" I don't think DUI laws are "Nanny Laws" any more than requiring inexperienced drivers to pay attention by not texting. It's a matter of public safety. There's a greater danger to us all due to widespread use of cell phones. "

Jack wrote on Jun 23, 2008 10:51 AM:

" While I agree that texting (or anything other than concentrating on driving) should not be done while driving, is another law really necessary? Whatever happened to common sense? There are enough laws on the books, make the PUNISHMENT a deterrent. We don't need a law against everything someone might do that might be harmful to someone or something. Put the onus on the individual. No more Nanny Laws. Enough. "

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