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2017 SESSION

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HB 2435 Handheld personal communications devices; use while driving, exceptions, penalty.

Introduced by: J. Randall Minchew | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Use of handheld personal communications devices while driving; penalty. Expands the prohibition of using a handheld personal communications device while operating a motor vehicle to all communications unless the device is specifically designed to allow voice and hands-free operation and the device is being used in that manner. Current law prohibits only the reading of an email or text message and manually entering letters or text in the device as a means of communicating. The bill expands the exemptions to include handheld personal communications devices that are used for navigation or generating audio transmissions when the device is physically mounted to the vehicle. The bill provides that any violation of this prohibition that occurs concurrently with an additional traffic offense, or if the violation results in an accident, may be punishable as reckless driving. Current law provides that a violation of this prohibition is punishable as a traffic infraction only.


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