9/21/07-While we are still months away from the calendar turning over to 2008, state legislators in Florida are busy putting together efforts for consideration once the regular session convenes in the spring.
One bill – S266 – prefiled in the Senate would prohibit drivers from talking on hand-held cell phones while driving.
Drivers would be prohibited from using the devices while behind the wheel. Talking on a phone equipped with a “hands-free” accessory would still be permitted.
Sponsored by Sen. Frederica Wilson, D-Miami Gardens, the bill would make it a secondary offense to drive while chatting – meaning a person would have to be pulled over for another violation, such as speeding, before they could be ticketed for talking on the phone. It also would prohibit drivers from text messaging.
Emergency calls would be exempted.