Lawmakers in Charleston and Washington are working to restrict the use of cell phones and other handheld devices while driving in a bid to cut down on crashes and deaths caused by distracted motorists.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Lawmakers in Charleston and Washington are working to restrict the use of cell phones and other handheld devices while driving in a bid to cut down on crashes and deaths caused by distracted motorists.
The two efforts may converge if millions of federal dollars are set aside for states that adopt such restrictions. The money could help speed along the passage of a bill that failed in this year's legislative session only because of a last-minute amendment.
"If there's federal money to be had, I suspect that will increase the bill's chances next year," said Delegate Nancy Peoples Guthrie, who sponsored the legislation this year and plans to introduce it during the 2010 session.
The Kanawha County Democrat says a legislative interim committee has been crafting a final proposal for the legislation, which should be ready soon.
The federal money would come from a bill co-sponsored by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. Rockefeller's bill would set aside money that's now used to encourage states to adopt stricter seat belt laws to instead serve as an inducement to ban text messaging and talking on cell phones while driving. Exceptions would be allowed for hands-free phones.
The bill being devised by the interim committee focuses mostly on texting while driving, but Guthrie wants to include restrictions on talking while driving as well.
"The fact that cell phones were stripped out of the bill, or even contemplated being stripped out of the bill, was stunning to me," she said. "If you're not paying attention, whether it's texting or talking on a cell phone, your car is as deadly as a three-ton weapon."
The state Division of Motor Vehicles supports both an outright ban on texting and restrictions on talking, according to Deputy Commissioner Steve Dale.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Lawmakers in Charleston and Washington are working to restrict the use of cell phones and other handheld devices while driving in a bid to cut down on crashes and deaths caused by distracted motorists.
The two efforts may converge if millions of federal dollars are set aside for states that adopt such restrictions. The money could help speed along the passage of a bill that failed in this year's legislative session only because of a last-minute amendment.
"If there's federal money to be had, I suspect that will increase the bill's chances next year," said Delegate Nancy Peoples Guthrie, who sponsored the legislation this year and plans to introduce it during the 2010 session.
The Kanawha County Democrat says a legislative interim committee has been crafting a final proposal for the legislation, which should be ready soon.
The federal money would come from a bill co-sponsored by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. Rockefeller's bill would set aside money that's now used to encourage states to adopt stricter seat belt laws to instead serve as an inducement to ban text messaging and talking on cell phones while driving. Exceptions would be allowed for hands-free phones.
The bill being devised by the interim committee focuses mostly on texting while driving, but Guthrie wants to include restrictions on talking while driving as well.
"The fact that cell phones were stripped out of the bill, or even contemplated being stripped out of the bill, was stunning to me," she said. "If you're not paying attention, whether it's texting or talking on a cell phone, your car is as deadly as a three-ton weapon."
The state Division of Motor Vehicles supports both an outright ban on texting and restrictions on talking, according to Deputy Commissioner Steve Dale.
"The legislative focus right now seems to be on texting, but it's very much an evolving situation," Dale said.
West Virginia currently bans all cell phone use for younger drivers, and makes such use a primary offense, meaning police can pull them over solely for texting or talking on the phone.
Seven states and the District of Columbia ban cell phones by all drivers, and texting while driving is banned by 18 states and D.C., according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
West Virginia lawmakers have been wary about increased restrictions in some areas, like all-terrain vehicles. Efforts to boost ATV safety by adding restrictions to their use have only partially succeeded, and were shut down completely in the 2007 and 2008 sessions.
The distracted driving initiative seems to have a better chance. It was passed by a wide margin in the House of Delegates this year and Senate passage seemed likely except for the addition of an amendment relating to the placement of cell phone towers in the state.
With time running out on the session's last night, the House and Senate couldn't come to an agreement on the amendment and the bill died.
"It was just one of those thoughtless amendments that a member put in without considering all the work the three committees had put into the bill," Guthrie said, "and last night of the session is always a hard night to be very civil to one another. This time around, the momentum has grown significantly."
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