HB+662+Texas+Legislature+81st+Session

HB 662 Prohibiting teenagers under 18 years old to drive a motorized vehicle and use a wireless communication device

Introduction: In this day and age cell phones and other wireless devices have become a popular thing. Most people have one especially teenagers under the age of 18. With these wireless devices people of all ages talk or now text anytime, even while driving. The distraction added onto the rest of the distractions can cause accidents, especially among beginner drivers.

HB 662 was introduced in the house by main author [|Solomon Ortiz Jr].on January 15, 2009. Then joint authors [|Norma Chavez] signed on March 17th/ [|Garnet Coleman] signed on March 25th/ [|Byron Cook] and [|Eddie Lucio III] signed on April 17th, and the co-author [|Carol Kent.] signed on May 14th. The bill states that teenagers under 18 years old that hold a drivers license or a 17 year old that holds a Class M or moped license will permitted to use a wireless device while driving a motorized vehicle unless it is an emergency or if using a hands free device. "Hands Free" device is defined in the [|House Committee Report under Bill] as any device that can be used as a speaker phone or a device that the subject does not have to hold in their hands. It also states that the police officers could not stop vehicle for the sole purpose to determine if the subject was indeed using their wireless device. If they cannot tell a definite use of the wireless device without a hands free device, then they cannot pull them over. The bill was amended twice one of the amendments stating the definition of a wireless communication device as a hand- held or hands free device uses a mobile service like AT&T or Sprint or any of the other services offered.


 * __Supporters__** (Combined Law Enforcement of Texas, and AAA Texas) say that this bill will promote good driving habits instead of bad ones; like texting or talking while driving. This is a bad habit which most teenagers have started and this bill could start changing that by requiring them to use a hands free devices. The distraction will be cut down of the situation, meaning that the driver will be more concentrated on the road and driving. The age of under 18 is also set because 18 is the age of becoming a legal adult. The consequence will be a $200 fine, but the offence will not go on the subject's driving record. They think that as the teenagers become adults it will help them make safer decisions when wanting to talk on the phone while driving.

1) These opposers think that people under the age of 18 should not be allowed to use wireless devices at all while driving a motor vehicle. This first set of opposers think that the first couple months after a teenager has their license is the most dangerous time. They think that this bill is too flexible; that it is not getting rid of the distraction of using a phone. Even though there are many distractions, during the first six months a young person has their license they should not be allowed to be on a wireless device at all, hands free or not.
 * __There are 2 sets of opposers:__**

2) The second oppser thinks this bill is not detailed enough. They state that there is no detail on what a wireless device is in the bill, and many electronic things can be considered in that particular category . Also they think that there should be a major consequence ( not just a fine of 200 dollars) when a teenager is not using a hands free device while driving. The opposers also state that police officers should be able to pull over subjects if they are visibly using a wireless device without a hands free device. But they also argue that it is hard for officers to recognize if a wireless device is being used or not. The bill in their point of view should be amended to incorporate more detailed information.

The Bill made its way all the way through the House with seven - ayes and zero - nays and four people absent. The bill was then passed on to the Senate. Once read in the Senate it was referred to the Senate committee Transportation and Homeland Security on May 19, 2009. Here is part of the timeline of the movement that the bill has made so far:

Filed on January 15 Read in the House for the first time on  February 18 Referred to Transportation Committee  February 18 Considered for a Public Hearing March 24 Committee Report was sent to Calendars April 1 Placed on the General State Calendar May 8 Read for the second time and Amended twice May 14 Read for the third time and passed May 15 Received in the Senate May 18 Read for the first time and sent to Transportation and Homeland Security May 19

The bill has not made any movement since then. It looks like the bill might have gotten tabled some where in the Senate Committee.

The companion bill SB 772 never made it out of the Senate committee. But a relating bill HB 55 would enforce everyone to use a hands free device while driving in a school zone. This bill made it to stage five, meaning it passed through the House and the Senate. The next step would have been to send it to the Governor to be signed.

This bill would have encouraged good driving behaviors and less distractions especially for younger drivers. It would have had a consequence that a teenager would definitely not want more than once; but it would make their parents more aware of their children's driving habits. Most parents probably have no idea that their child talks on the phone or text while driving. Its definitely not a safe habit for any age group, but it is especially not safe for inexperienced drivers.