mobile roaming fees

Hang up and drive: House passes cell phone bill

The Washington state House on Wednesday approved a measure that would require drivers to use handsfree devices when talking on their cell phones.

The bill passed on a 59-38 vote in the House, where it has gotten stopped in prior years. It passed the Senate last month, but must head back to the Senate for concurrence before going to Gov. Chris Gregoire, who is expected to sign it.

"This bill sends a message to all drivers all across the state that talking on your cell phone while driving is dangerous, or as the bumper sticker says, 'hang up and drive'," said Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island.

Under the proposed law, if you're caught holding a cell phone when you're pulled over for another infraction, such as speeding, you could be slapped with an extra $101 fine.

Sen. Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way, has tried to get a handsfree requirement onto the books for seven years. While her measure has passed the Senate in past years, it has never come up for a vote in the House until this year.

"I think its day has come," Eide said. "It's about time."

The House has already passed a measure that would ban all drivers from text messaging while driving. That measure is awaiting action in the Senate.

Opponents of the phone bill said that talking on the phone is no more distracting than rowdy children in the back seat or eating in the car. And some argued that even with a headset, drivers can still be distracted by their phone calls.

"Dialing that phone number is a lot trickier than having that phone up to my ear," said Rep. Mike Armstrong, R-Wenatchee. "We are passing a bill that really isn't going to stop the true unsafe behavior."

The measure would allow motorists to use hand-held phones to summon help in an emergency or to report illegal activity. Emergency workers would be allowed to use a cell phone while driving if they are performing official duties. Tow truck drivers responding to disabled vehicles would also be allowed to use hand-held phones.

An amendment exempting people who wear hearing aids was added to the measure on the House floor.

Several other amendments were rejected, including one that would have limited the restriction to King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, and another that would have banned eating or drinking while driving and talking on the cell phone. Attempts to exempt taxi cab drivers and commercial drivers were also rejected.

All states have considered some sort of distracted driving measure in the past five years, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., all have laws prohibiting the use of hand-held phones while driving, he said. California passed a similar law that will go into effect in 2008.

Thirteen states prohibit drivers with learning permits from talking on a cell phone and 11 states have laws against school bus drivers using them.

If it's signed by the governor, the bill would take effect Jan. 1, 2008. For the first six months, the State Patrol would just give out warnings.

The House on Wednesday also passed:

-A measure to expedite construction of new ferry vessels. The state is building at least four new ferries to serve the growing population in the Puget Sound region and to replace vessels that were built in 1927. The legislation, which now goes to the Senate, would allow shipbuilders to collaborate on a single joint proposal. The state could modify the plan. The bill passed 91-6.

-A bill that would extend the state's anti-discrimination protections to veterans and active duty military. The measure, which went to the governor for her expected signature, passed 90-7

source : www.komotv.com

Other Article