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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 4, 2014 09:55 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Rob Teplitz and Sen. John N. Wozniak |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Legislation - Distracted Driving |
| In the near future, we plan on again introducing legislation that would make the driver’s use of a handheld mobile telephone device while operating a motor vehicle a summary secondary offense and, upon conviction, subject to a fine of $50 for the first violation, $100 for a second violation and $150 for a third or subsequent violation. According to the National Safety Council, car crashes are the #1 cause of workplace deaths and drivers using handheld cell phones are 4 times as likely to crash. There would be exemptions for use of such devices during emergency situations or by law enforcement or emergency service providers. Also, there would be no violation of the law unless the person was also convicted of another traffic offense and the distracted driving violation will only go into effect after a 6 month education campaign by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Senators Dinniman, Smith, Costa, Hughes and Yudichak served as co-sponsors of this legislation when this legislation was first introduced last session. Please join us in reducing the #1 cause of workplace deaths. Thank you for your consideration. |
Introduced as SB153