March 14, 2007
Washington House OKs ban on text-messaging while driving
The Washington state House has voted to outlaw text-messaging while driving, reports the Seattle Post Intelligencer .
"For years, lawmakers have considered a ban on use of hand-held cell phones while driving, but this was the first big vote on the practice of trying to compose or read electronic messages via Blackberry devices or cellular telephones at the wheel.
The measure, adopted on a 73-23 vote, goes next to the Senate, which recently approved a ban on hand-held cell phone use by drivers. The House has not voted on that bill.
... Current law doesn't explicitly address the situation, and troopers pull someone over only if they see weaving or other dangerous road behavior. The legislation says the officer can stop a driver who is spotted text-messaging or reading the device.
The offense would be a traffic infraction, typically carrying a $101 fine.
No one spoke against the bill."
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