Texas House votes to ban texting while driving

AUSTIN — Texas lawmakers tentatively approved a statewide ban against texting while driving, saying the practice is a hazard more dangerous than drunken driving.

The legislation would ban text, electronic and instant messaging by a motorist while driving. It would not apply when a driver is stopped at a traffic light or stop sign. Violations could lead to a Class C misdemeanor charge and a fine of up to $200.

"The key to this is, a lot of people are being killed because of texting," said Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland, author of HB 243. "It's a function of safety and saving people's lives. That's what it's all about."

His bill won preliminary approval, 124-16. Lawmakers who opposed the measure cited privacy and civil liberty concerns.

The House must take one more vote on Friday, and the Senate also must approve the legislation before the statewide ban on texting while driving takes effect on Sept. 1, 2011.

Craddick, a former House speaker, acknowledged that some critics fear that a ban against texting and driving could erode their rights.

But Craddick countered, "Driving is not a right. Driving is a responsibility and a privilege."

Citing research, Craddick said texting while driving is 20 times more dangerous than drunken driving.

Some Texas communities, including San Antonio, already have local ordinances banning the practice. A total of 30 states also have such bans.

The proposed statewide ban against texting is similar to San Antonio's ordinance. However, the statewide measure would allow motorists to read text messages and to send messages while stopped at traffic lights or stop signs - something the San Antonio ordinance prohibits.

Rep. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, has pushed a statewide ban on texting while driving for several legislative sessions.

"It's important that the state have a (uniform) standard - just like standard seatbelt laws," Menendez said. "It also makes the state, as a whole, safer."
A texting-while-driving ban also will play an important role in driver education and training for teenage drivers, he said.

"That's the key, because they're the ones who are texting more than anybody," Menendez said.

He and Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, co-sponsored the bill.
Rep. Lyle Larson, R-San Antonio, cast the only dissenting vote among Bexar County members.

"Basically, I like to see government stay out of people's lives," Larson said. "It's also an issue of enforcement. I don't see how they can adequately enforce that."
Larson also noted that drivers engage in many other types of distractions, such as eating food or applying makeup.

"I don't think we should allow the government to get into our lives to that degree," he said.

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MPD targets impaired drivers with federal grant

Madison drivers were urged to stay alert during Super Bowl weekend as the Madison Police Department staffed extra patrols on the lookout for intoxicated drivers Saturday.

As part of a national grant to combat Wisconsin’s infamous drunken driving problem, MPD had a number of extra patrols specifically targeting at-risk drivers during what was expected to be a large partying weekend as the Green Bay Packers traveled to Dallas.

MPD received a $40,000 grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to combat drunk driving throughout 2011, Lt. Tony Bitterman said.

According to a statement from the MPD, the grant is coordinated through the Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Safety.

“[The initiative has] the objective of detecting and apprehending motor vehicle operators who are committing traffic violations and/or who are operating a motor vehicle while impaired,” the statement said.

In addition to the 31 regularly scheduled Saturday night officers, four patrols were paid overtime with grant funding Feb. 5 to specifically patrol for intoxicated drivers, Bitterman said.

The statement said the department supports the “Zero In Wisconsin” campaign, which advocates zero toleration for drunk driving.

“We hope that we are doing a little education in regard to [driving while intoxicated],” Bitterman said. “If we have more officers out there specifically dedicated to apprehending impaired drivers, that should have an effect.”

The department also received grants for speed enforcement, pedestrian right of way laws and bike law enforcement. The municipalities can apply for the grants on a yearly cycle through a written application process, Bitterman said.

Though the amounts of the grants varies from year to year, Bitterman said approximately $4,000 was extended for both the pedestrian and bike law enforcements, and $45,000 was granted for speed enforcement.

Bitterman said the grant cycle runs from October to September. Because the funding was approved in October, Bitterman said the department has sponsored several initiatives through the winter months.

He said the impaired driving initiatives are going to increase as the temperatures get warmer. While only two alcohol initiatives are planned for February, during the warmer months, there may be as many as eight or nine per month.

There will be additional grant-sponsored officers doing primarily alcohol enforcement nearly every weekend throughout the summer, Bitterman said.

MPD spokesperson Joel DeSpain said the department receives grants from both the federal and state level to periodically do increased enforcement of impaired drivers.

The next initiative night is Feb. 18.

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