Show Legislature considers bell cell phone regulations Susan Roylance Contributing Writer I II I Three bills have been introduced at the Legislature that would regulate the use of cell cele phones while driving a vehicle A Spokesman for the Utah Highway Patrol said that two more bills are also being considered making a total of five Recent studies show that using a cell celI phone while driving is similar to driving under the influence of alcohol said Jeff spokesman for the Department of Public Safety He said they are watching all five bills and will focus on the one that gets close to passing He hoped the sponsors of the bills will get together and combine their proposals into one bill We will support anything that increases safety said Ar Three bills are currently in the House Rules Committee HB Regulating the Use of Wireless Communication Device While Operating a Motor Vehicle is sponsored by Rep Moss Salt D-Salt Lake County HB Wireless Communication Device Use Limitations While Operating a Motor Vehicle is sponsored by Rep Ray R-Davis R County and HB Prohibition of Wireless Communication Device Use in a Motor Vehicle is sponsored bythe bythe by bythe the Rep Stephen Clark Utah R-Utah County HB prohibits the use of a wireless communication device cell phone unless the device is designed and configured to allow hands hands- hands free free listening and talking a andi l Si used sed in hi that manner The bill provides exceptions related to an emergency safety hazards or criminal activity Emergency personnel and law enforcement officers are not given an exception in HB We need our emergency personnel to have the option of using wireless devices said Both HB and HB do not prohibit using a wireless communication device when used by a law enforcement officer or emergency service personnel acting within the course and scope of their then employment We all agree that distracted drivers cause accidents said Don Hutson n of the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Sheriff's office Even wireless phones that are attached to the ear require some manipulation he said and the person on the theother theother theother other end has no idea when the driver might be involved in an emergency driving situation It is safer to have both hands handson on the wheel said Hutson David Worthington of the Sandy Traffic Enforcement Unit is opposed to anything that is isa isa isa a distraction to the thc driver We Driving Continued on AS I I Driving with cell phones Continued from fromAl A 1 have seen some accidents where they were distracted by cell phone use There is some debate over whether talking on a cell phone attached to the ear is any more dangerous than talking to another passenger in the car Detective Kenny Bass of the Murray Police Department said that Talking to someone in the car can also be a distraction especially if the driver turns their head to look at the them Eating while driving is also a distraction The more things you are doing rather than focusing on driving increases s the risk of an accident said Bass HB focuses on the use of a wireless communication device in a reduced speed school zone or a public parking lot unless the device allows hands free talking and listening and specifically prohibits a person younger than 18 years of age from using a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle upon a highway of this state The penalties vary from bill to bill A violation of HB would require the Drivers License Division to assess points against the driving record of the person HB would make the violation a class C misdemeanor However if HB passes the violation would not be a reportable violation and points may not be assessed The fiscal notes indicate that fines would be paid to tp local governments through the Justice Courts Twenty other states already have laws prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving Many of these laws became effective in 2008 Further information about these laws can be found on www On the New York State the safety warning is clear Any task a driver performs while driving is a potential driving distraction The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that your chance of getting in an accident increases by if youre you're talking on your cell phone while driving Their data also shows that 25 of all traffic accidents are a result of distracted drivers http All three bills are in the House Rules Committee chaired by Rep Ben Ferry Other committee members are Rep Hughes Rep Holdaway Rep Menlove Rep Morley Rep Noel Rep Painter Rep Wimmer Rep Biskupski Rep Hendrickson and Rep Wiley Information about bills before th the Utah Legislature can be found on their web site http Email comments can be besent besent besent sent to gov |