Texting while driving ban is near
Bill heads to Senate floor, would require Abbott’s signature
Banning Texans from texting while driving is inching toward reality, but with caveats that would allow many motorists to keep typing at stoplights.
Banning Texans from texting while driving is inching toward reality, but with caveats that would allow many motorists to keep typing at stoplights.
The Texas Senate State Affairs Committee pushed a revised version of HB 62 along to the full Senate, meeting after adjournment on Tuesday. Committee members discussed the bill Monday, but lacked enough senators to move the bill along.
“The time has come for the State of Texas to pass this legislation,” said state Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston and committee chairwoman.
The bill is an altered version of one passed by the Texas House, sponsored by Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland.
Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, was unable to get her own bill to ban texting while driving to a Senate vote, but is hopeful Craddick’s bill can win passage.
That, however, required revisions to appease some state senators, who wanted to clearly state that a Texas-wide ban would supersede any city regulations regarding the use of wireless phones for texting and a few other uses.
As a result, Zaffirini said the
bill’s language was altered to say it applies strictly to texting, and allows for use of a phone to access a mapping feature, such as asking a smartphone for directions.
The bill as revised says police must observe the person text or have other evidence to issue a citation.
Because the language of the bill outlaws texting while a vehicle is moving, a motorist stopped at a light or intersection still would be allowed to type and read messages.
Though the process has been burdensome, Zaffirini said she was hopeful the outcome would be a state texting ban.
“This would create a statewide standard that would truly save lives,” she said.
No guarantee in Senate
Huffman noted a vast majority of Texans support a texting ban, and said it is time for lawmakers to approve restrictions.
Getting to the Senate floor, however, is no guarantee. Though Zaffirini said she has 21 votes to pass the ban, it is up to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to place it on the intent calendar as the Senate races to complete the legislative session by the end of the month.
Gov. Greg Abbott then would need to sign the bill. When it passed the Texas House in March, Craddick said Abbott and Patrick were willing to consider a texting ban, though both at the time remained mum on what they would do, awaiting a final bill.
Vetoed in 2011
Craddick and Zaffirini have spent a decade on passing a texting ban in the Legislature. The last time such a bill reached the governor’s desk was 2011. Then-Gov. Rick Perry vetoed it, saying he was concerned about “a government effort to micromanage the behavior of adults.”
Progress this year was cheered by advocates.
“With a growing number of accidents on Texas roadways blamed on the practice of texting while driving, it’s time to pass a statewide ban as well as change the culture that considers it acceptable behavior,” said Beaman Floyd, executive director of the Texas Coalition for Affordable Insurance Solutions.