Law to prohibit use of cell phones while driving sent to Governor’s desk

BOSSIER CITY, La. (KTAL/KMSS)—House Bill 519 has been sent to Governor Jeff Landry’s desk. It would prohibit the use of a cell phone or telecommunication device while operating a vehicle.

Currently, texting while driving is against the law. However, HB519, introduced by State Representative Brian Glorioso, will extend the law to prohibit more cell phone-related activities.

HB519 states that it would be illegal to:

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• Engage in a call, whether talking or listening
• Write, send, or read a text message, email, or any other message
• Access, read, or post to a social networking site
• Access, view, post, edit, or create a video or photograph
• Access, read, view, compose, or browse any data from an application or other media
• Hold or physically support a device in either or both hands

Darron Kerry, a Patrolman First Class with the Bossier Police Traffic Division, says the proposed law will help deter distracted driving and taking one’s eyes off the road to look at a cell phone.

“Let’s say you’re doing 45 miles an hour. 45 miles an hour is not a high speed, but in that two or three second, doing 45 miles an hour, you have covered anywhere from 150 to 200 feet on the road. And you can imagine what that distance is if you’re doing interstate speeds and stuff like that,” said Kerry.

He adds that many crashes and accidents that the Bossier Police Department sees involve cell phone use.

“Looking at the phone, watching TV, depending on what type of vehicle they’re driving you know a lot of these vehicles they’ll stay in the lane for them so they really don’t even, don’t have to pay attention the way they look at it, is they don’t have to pay attention to the road, and it’s a big big safety issue,” said Kerry.

Exceptions to the proposed law include use of a cell phone or telecommunication device if a vehicle is autonomous, if the vehicle is lawfully stationary or stopped, and if the device is used hands-free with Bluetooth or an attachment.

Kerry clarifies that being at a stop sign or a red light does not qualify as being lawfully stationary.

“You’re sitting at a red light, you say Oh, I got time to check my phone. Well, the light turns green, you stay sitting at the light, the person behind you is looking at their phone, and they run into the back of you. As long as you are physically in control of that vehicle, you cannot have your cell phone in your hand,” said Kerry.

Motorists would be allowed to use a cell phone when dialing 9-1-1 to report a traffic collision, medical emergency, or serious road hazard, or to report a situation in which they believe an individual is in jeopardy of serious injury or death.

“The consequences can all be the same whether you’re a drunk driver or you’re a distracted driver. People get killed by drunk drivers and people get killed by using a cell phone,” said Kerry.