Listen
Put down your phone and drive. That’s the message from Washington lawmakers.
The Washington House passed a new distracted driving law Wednesday and it needs one more vote in the Senate before it goes to the governor.
Current Washington law bans texting behind the wheel. But it allows drivers to hold their phone in one hand and drive with the other, as long as the phone isn’t held up to the ear.
The new law would be much stricter: no handling of a phone behind the wheel. Not even while stopped at a traffic light. A quick touch to activate or deactivate a function would be OK and emergency calls would also be allowed.
Democrat Jessyn Farrell is one of the sponsors of the “Driving Under the Influence of Electronics Act.”
“This bill is really about safety,” she said. “And it’s really about our kids who are watching every single thing that we do.”
The new rules would apply not just to smartphones, but to tablets, laptops and other so-called personal electronic devices. Drivers could use voice activation technology.
The proposed law would impose double fines for repeat violations. That could mean a ticket of $235 for a second offense.
Opponents argue the crackdown goes too far and might result in drivers who are not distracted being ticketed.
“They’re driving fine, they’re at a normal speed, they’ve got a good, safe distance between them and the vehicle ahead of them, they haven’t swerved out of a lane or anything else, I don’t think that they should be pulled over,” said Republican state Representative Ed Orcutt.
In a nod to concerns about other distractions behind the wheel, the proposed law would also create a new secondary distracted driving offense. It would allow police officers who make a traffic stop to write an additional ticket for distracted driving if the officer discovered the driver was, for instance, eating while driving or doing something else that interfered with the safe operation of the vehicle.
Washington was the first state to ban texting and driving in 2007. That was long before the era of ubiquitous smart phones and other devices.
If signed by the governor, the new distracted driving law would take effect on January 1, 2019.
Copyright 2017 NWNews. To see more, visit NWNews.
Related Stories:
Northwest Cities See Big Women’s March Crowds As #MeToo Looms Large
Across the Northwest, thousands of people attended Women’s March events over the weekend. Marches happened in the region’s biggest cities and much smaller towns and college campuses. Continue Reading Northwest Cities See Big Women’s March Crowds As #MeToo Looms Large Read More » Scott Leadingham January 21, 2018
After Eagle Creek Fire, Columbia River Gorge Trails Could Be Closed For Years
The U.S. Forest Service gave an update on the conditions of Columbia River Gorge trails recently, indicating that some of the most damaged trails “may take several years to reopen.” Forest Service employees and volunteers have been working since the fall to assess damage from the Eagle Creek Fire to more than 20 miles of trails. Continue Reading After Eagle Creek Fire, Columbia River Gorge Trails Could Be Closed For Years Read More » Ryan Haas January 20, 2018
How Will A Government Shutdown Affect Public Lands?
Uncertainty reigns about what federal public lands will be open if the congressional budget standoff leads to a partial government shutdown. Closed national parks and forest campgrounds were among the most visible effects the last time the federal government partially shut down in October 2013. Continue Reading How Will A Government Shutdown Affect Public Lands? Read More » Tom Banse January 19, 2018