The Senate has revved up efforts to make it illegal to text while driving, yet the House bill on the long-sought prohibition continues to idle.
After more than a decade of different legislators seeking to ban the practice, Sen. Michael Bennett, R-Bradenton, said the time has come for the bill that would make it a secondary offense if law enforcement sees the driver texting or reading texts while committing another offense, such as speeding or reckless driving.
The only question now is, will the House take up the issue, he said.
I hope the House gets it moving, I know they have been a little slow over there, Bennett said Thursday as the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Appropriations became the third committee to endorse SB 416.
House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, said he couldnt forecast if the bill would move before any committee, noting that a lot of members have concerns about both the remedy and structure of any bill that regulates individual behavior.
Ive got personal liberties concerns, others do too, but its only week three. It remains to be seen, Cannon said.
Texting itself wouldnt be enough of an offense for a motorist to be pulled over, but a ticket would be issued as a secondary offense if law enforcement sees the driver texting or reading texts while committing another offense, such as speeding or reckless driving.
Under the bill, a motorist could still check texts when the car is stopped.
Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, the sponsor of SB 416, said many opponents of the bill have been wary about rules that infringe on personal freedoms or make any distraction -- from putting on make-up to eating a hamburger -- a driving violation.
Im certainly not for infringing on anybodys personal freedom as long as its not affecting the person next to you, Detert said. And I'd like to get this done before there is a tragedy and someone takes out all the kids at a bus stop and then the public screaming, Why didnt you do something about it!
Detert added that as more states pursue bans on texting while behind the wheel, technology companies have created more gadgets that rely upon voice commands.
The bill would not prohibit a driver from speaking on a cell phone.
Voice-activated, you can still watch the road and talk to text, she said.
The bill was unanimously backed by the Transportation Committee in December and received 12-1 support from the Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Committee on Jan. 12.
Two House bills directed at texting and driving, HB 299 and HB 187, have yet to reach a committee vote.
Fines would start at $30 for the first offense.
A second violation would double the fine and add three points to a drivers license. The point total would double if the motorist was involved in a crash while texting or reading texts.
An amendment was added to the bill that would add three points to an individuals drivers license if charged with texting while driving through a school zone.
Another amendment would slap two additional points on the drivers license of a motorist found texting while driving through a school zone.
This is Deterts third attempt to get an anti-texting-and-driving bill through the Senate. Efforts to ban texting and using hand-held devices as a primary offense have struggled to gain support among many legislators opposed to government regulating private behavior.
The bill is backed by AAA, AARP, the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Florida Public Transportation Association and Justice 2 Jesus.
There are only a handful of states that do not impose any form of texting and cell phone ban -- many states prohibit the use by school bus drivers and those with learners' permits or under 18. The other states are: Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, South Carolina and South Dakota.
Alabama, Arizona andNew Mexico have prohibitions on cell phone use, but no texting ban.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
