Bill passes state Senate making texting, talking while driving a primary offense
February 5th, 2010The state Senate has passed a bill that would make it a primary offense to drive while talking on a cell phone and to text while driving.
Currently, under state law, it’s a secondary offense, which means that police can ticket you for it but they have to initially pull you over for another violation. Many have called it a failure, because, frankly, you see people everywhere talking on their cell phones while driving (Note: under existing law, and the proposed law, a hands-free device is legal to talk with).
The bill, SB 6345, would also make it illegal for anyone with an instructional or intermediate driving permit to use a phone at all. It would allow transit drivers to use handheld devices.
Click here to see the bill report (click on the first link in the text).
It was introduced on Jan. 12 and it passed the Senate on Feb. 5 by a vote of 33 in favor, 15 against. Sen. Dale Brandland, R-Whatcom County, and Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-San Juan Island, both voted for the bill.
Click here to see more information about the bill.
A similiar bill in the House has already had a hearing, but it hasn’t come up for a full House vote yet. Click here to see information on the House bill.
Thanks to my co-worker Sam Taylor for letting me know about this bill and its passage.
British Columbia has already made it illegal to drive and talk on you phone without a hands-free device or text while driving. As of Feb. 1, it was being enforced by police up there because the one-month grace period ended.




