Mar 16 2009
Bill Passes to make Texting While Driving Illegal
March 12th, 2009 @ 8:09pm
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Lawmakers have passed a bill to make text messaging while driving illegal.
House Bill 290, sponsored by Rep. Stephen Clark, R-Provo, would make text messaging or e-mailing while operating a vehicle a primary offense. A first-offense violation would be a class C misdemeanor.
A driver involved in a crash while texting could be charged with a class B misdemeanor and have his or her driver’s license revoked. If someone is killed in a crash where the driver had been texting, the driver could be charged with a felony.
The bill passed the Senate 26-1 and passed the House 45-29 on Thursday. It will now be sent to the governor.
