Ban cell phones and driving? Bill filing begins in Missouri
Among the first bills filed today in Jefferson City: A bill that would ban the use of cell phones while driving in certain circumstances.
Today is the first day to pre-file bills in the Missouri Legislature. For some lawmakers, it’s their best chance at a headline. It’s also a good look into some of the issues that will be taking up the Legislature’s time come January.
The first two bills assigned a number (according to the Gov Watch site), are HB 26, filed by Republican Joe Smith of St. Charles, and HB 27, filed by Republican David Day of Dixon. Smith’s bill would prohibit cell phone use while operating a motor vehicle on public property, with some exceptions.
Day’s bill would allow veterans in Missouri to deduct their military retirement income from state income taxes.
While they haven’t been assigned bill numbers yet, three Columbia Democrats also announced their intention to file bills today. One, supported by freshman lawmakers Mary Still and Stephen Webber, would ban robo-calls, unless the call was preceded by a live operator who asks the recipient for consent. A similar bill was sponsored by Democrat Ed Wildberger last year.
Also, freshman Democrat Chris Kelly said he planned to file a bill allowing early voting in Missouri. Also, the Democrats said they would revive payday loan legislation that would limit interest rates on the loans.
I look forward to no cell phones to go along with helmuts and seatbelts. Now if we could get seatbelts on motorcycles and get pedistrians to wear safety vest and helmuts finally we could all just sit in a room with rubber walls. Yes, let the state protect you all since you all can’t protect yourself. Your funny.
It’s about time that a legislator addressed banning cell phones while driving (albeit only on public property). I don’t think it’s fair that MADD members are allowed to talk on their cell phones while operating a motor vehicle, when studies have shown that the action impedes your reaction time just as much as being legally intoxicated. Another bill I would suggest to a legislator: one that would once again outlaw alcohol sales while public voting locations are open. Such a law would help maintain the integrity of close, local political races.
Fred McKinney… Please `define’ Communism.
You should take a shot at it too, Nancy Drew.
Just pass a law making it illegal to do anything stupid. It will be all encompassing, not just narrowly defined to driving while talking.
I second the bill to make stupidity illegal.
Officer: What were you doing?
Person: yada yada yada
Officer: Don’t you think that was stupid?
Person: Yes.
Officer: Engage Instant vaporization. Poof!
I think listening to robocalls while driving should be illegal.
If they wanted to make cell phone driving illegal, they shouldn’t have put the cell towers along the interstates. A lot of rural talking and driving goes on because ”that’s the only place you have a signal.” Duh.
Now, talking on a cell phone while driving within the circle that is I270-I255 probably should be illegal. But if you’re in rural Mo…heck, that’s often the only thing to keep you awake.
One side effect of banning cells while driving would be a steep downturn in the economy. Do you people have any *idea* how many customers get “talked in” to a retail location?
While they are at it, why not an amendment to take TVs out of cars? Now, that’s a distraction with no socially redeeming value whatsoever.
“What about laws to ban hair-combing while driving, or putting on make-up, or taking off your jacket, or reading the newspaper or watching a video? ”
Yes, those would all be good laws.
“Careless and imprudent driving is already illegal.”
That’s great, if only the police would enforce them. Since they seem to lack the will (probably because the current “careless and imprudent” laws are so vague the lawyers have rendered them useless), these kinds of laws are required to tell them to tell the police, judges lawyers and juries that yes, the public is serious about not wanting to die on the road just so others won’t be inconvenienced by having to pay attention when they are driving a half ton of metal at high speeds.
I say we need more of the these laws until really start making a difference. The number of people killed on the road is a national disgrace.
Wouldn’t checking your messages be no different than listening to your radio. There are much more important issues they could worry about.
There’s already a law on the books for inattentive driving. Just enforce that rather than write a new law specifically for cell phones. Get the guy reading the paper and the lady doing her make-up too.
as a local repairman that is always on his cell phone trying to satisfy customers or trying to locate a house taking away my cell phone use is going to make my job harder and the customers have to wait longer for their repairs. Also if we can’t use cell phones while driving then the police should have to give up theirs when driving also. no exceptions. They better provide more parking spaces then if we are all going to have to pull over to talk on our cell phones. I see more police harassment to ppl parked and talking on a cell phone not to say creating a hazard for other ppl driving if the stopped car is in a bad spot and in the way. As for me I will talk on mine regardless. give me the fine. what are they going to do? take away my phone? Maybe we should all go back to using cb radios again.. at least then when you wreck you got a cord to hang onto..lol