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2013 SESSION
SB 1238 Handheld personal communications devices; texting while driving is punishable as reckless driving.
Introduced by: George L. Barker | all patrons ... notes | add to my profiles
SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:
Reckless driving; texting; penalty. Provides that texting while driving is punishable as reckless driving, a Class 1 misdemeanor; currently, violations incur a $20 fine. The bill also makes texting while driving a primary offense; currently, law-enforcement officers must have cause to stop or detain a driver for some other violation before issuing a citation for texting while driving. If the degree of culpability is slight, the person may be found not guilty of reckless driving but guilty of texting while driving, which is punishable by a $50 fine. The bill was incorporated into SB 1222.
FULL TEXT
HISTORY
- 01/09/13 Senate: Presented and ordered printed 13103497D
- 01/09/13 Senate: Referred to Committee on Transportation
- 01/23/13 Senate: Rereferred from Transportation (14-Y 0-N)
- 01/23/13 Senate: Rereferred to Courts of Justice
- 02/04/13 Senate: Incorporated by Courts of Justice (SB1222-Norment) (14-Y 0-N)