Handheld personal communications devices; texting while driving is punishable as reckless driving. (SB1238)
Introduced By
Sen. George Barker (D-Alexandria)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✓ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
☐ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Reckless driving; texting; penalty. Provides that texting while driving is punishable as reckless driving, a Class 1 misdemeanor; currently, violations incur a $20 fine. The bill also makes texting while driving a primary offense; currently, law-enforcement officers must have cause to stop or detain a driver for some other violation before issuing a citation for texting while driving. If the degree of culpability is slight, the person may be found not guilty of reckless driving but guilty of texting while driving, which is punishable by a $50 fine. Read the Bill »
Status
02/04/2013: Merged into SB1222
History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 01/09/2013 | Presented and ordered printed |
| 01/09/2013 | Presented and ordered printed 13103497D |
| 01/09/2013 | Referred to Committee on Transportation |
| 01/17/2013 | Impact statement from DPB (SB1238) |
| 01/23/2013 | Rereferred from Transportation (14-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
| 01/23/2013 | Rereferred to Courts of Justice |
| 02/04/2013 | Incorporated by Courts of Justice (SB1222-Norment) (14-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |