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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Senate passes texting-while-driving ban

The Senate has voted 29-6 in favor of SB 1274, the bill to ban texting while driving, making it an infraction; you can read my full story here at spokesman.com. Among the comments in the Senate debate:

"My cell phone won't text" - Sen. Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth

"I have to admit, I've done it, and I found myself weaving and not being in my lane of traffic. ... We need to be sure that we are protecting Idaho citizens from their own stupidity, and I'm sorry, that's the way I feel about it." - Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle

"A prosecutor can certainly prosecute using inattentive driving, although the basis is texting." - Sen. Mitch Toryanski, R-Boise, an attorney, addressing concerns that the texting penalty is less than that for inattentive driving.

"For our young people, reaching for their smart phone is second nature. With the exuberance of their youth, they do not understand the dangers of driving while texting." - Sen. Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston, who read a letter from her neighbors whose daughter died in January in a freeway texting-while-driving accident

"73 percent of teens admit to texting while driving." - Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Coeur d'Alene

The six "no" votes came from Sens. McKenzie, Nuxoll, Pearce, Vick, Fulcher and McKague. The bill now moves to the House side; two years ago, a texting ban that had passed the Senate died in the House on the final night of the legislative session when it got majority support, but then-Rep. Raul Labrador used a parliamentary procedure to require two-thirds, causing it to fail. After today's vote, the Senate welcomed the Sauer family, whose daughter Taylor died in the January accident, with applause; they were in the Senate gallery for the vote.
 



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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