TEXTING BAN SIGNED

Beavercreek students played role in bill. No electronic devices for teens.

State driving law will take effect Aug. 1

COLUMBUS —

Lawmakers often say children are the future leaders of the state, country and world, but a group of Beavercreek middle school students proved they don’t have to wait.

A handful of seventhgraders witnessed Gov. John Kasich sign a statewide ban on texting while driving Friday – a bill they helped shape with lawmakers during the last two years.

The new law makes it illegal to text while driving, punishable as a secondary offense such as a seatbelt violation, and bans all electronic devices for teen drivers. Teens can be pulled over for violating the electronics ban and have their license suspended for 60 days in addition to being fined $150.

Two years ago, about 30 fifth-graders at Beavercreek’s Main Elementary School researched a texting ban proposal for a civic competition called Project Citizen. After months of research, they reported their findings to Beavercreek officials who said they were waiting for state action before making a local decision.

Later in 2010, the students heard state lawmakers were considering a bill to ban texting floor one year after the students’ testimony and two years after their first project presentation.

Some traveled to the Statehouse to watch the lengthy floor debate. Student Kailey Helton said senators made good points, especially about enforcement, but there were times she wanted to stand up and join the debate.

For part of their research, students counted the number of drivers fiddling with their phones while driving past their school. Helton said they counted 15 in one 5-minute period.

Parthemore said the project put reading, writing and thinking skills to work but also encouraged students to be aware of policy issues.

“To make it real and authentic for them is extremely important because these kids will know how the legal process works,” Parthemore said. “When they get old enough to vote and make decisions, they’ll be very informed.”

They said the process “took too long” but didn’t scare them away from becoming a lawmaker some day. When asked whether they would text or use a phone while driving, the tweens answered with a resounding, “No.”

“Not after seeing what you can do or can happen to you,” student Lloryn Cylin said. “Just don’t do it – I don’t know how much we can say it.”