Lawmakers: Hang up and drive

Legislation limits cell phones while driving

Updated: Tuesday, 10 Mar 2009, 1:18 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 10 Mar 2009, 1:04 PM EDT

Lawmakers are considering banning the use of cell phones while driving. The House Committee on Transportation is considering almost a dozen bills that take up the issue.

If created into law, House Bill 55 would ban using a wireless device in a school zone. House Bill 219 would ban use of a wireless device in a school crossing. House Bill 220 would require drivers to use only a hands-free device. Meanwhile, House Bill 758 bans texting altogether. Other bills on the table would create different penalties for drivers using a wireless device.

Tuesday morning, the committee heard from different legislators that filed the bills. Rep. Dan Branch from Dallas filed House Bill 55.

"We're trying to find the right balance between public safety and, sort of, intrusion into civil liberties," said Branch.

The committee is set to hear public testimony on each bill Tuesday afternoon. The American Radio Relay League agrees that the use of cell phones can be dangerous but has a problem with the language of each bill. According to the league, a wireless device could mean a GPS device or even a TexTag.

"The only issues that we have with the bills are that they fail to define wireless communication device," said Glen Reid, with the American Radio Relay League.

The bills will continue to be looked at by the transportation committee.

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