Louisiana drivers distracted by ringing phones, blaring stereos and fast food may now have one less diversion. Driving while talking on a hand-held cell phone will be illegal – and punishable up to $250 – if a bill approved by a House committee passes before the State Legislature. House Bill 852 – sponsored by Rep. Austin Badon, D-New Orleans – passed in the House Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee, 11-6, on Monday. “This bill simply says in order to use your cell phone [while driving], you use a hands-free device,” Badon told the committee. The bill allows the use of hands-free devices to talk on cell phones, and only the driver is prohibited from using a hand-held device. Opponents on the committee said the bill would unfairly require people to buy new gadgets and connections to use phones while driving. But Badon said he found hands-free phone connections as inexpensive as $9. “This bill will save lives,” Badon said. “And it has the potential to do it for only $9.” The bill will also ban text messaging. Badon said drivers who text are 50 percent more likely to be involved in an accident than drivers talking on their phones. Exceptions would be made for drivers calling 911 or other emergency response teams such as law enforcement agencies or fire departments. Under the bill, violators will be fined $100 to $250. Badon said at least five other states – New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut and Washington – have laws that ban the use of hand-held communication devices while driving. He said as many as 20 other states are considering such legislation. In 2006, there were 2,282 crashes in Louisiana involving drivers on cell phones, Highway Safety Commission traffic safety program contractor Bobby Breland told the committee. At least 10 deaths were reported in these accidents. Rep. Barbara Norton, D-Shreveport, who opposed the bill, said distractions – such as eating and putting on makeup – affect drivers as much as cell phones do. “I’m trying to see how is using a cell phone any more dangerous than all those other things,” Norton asked Badon. Badon said his bill did not restrict other driving distractions, but said banning hand-held communication devices will increase public safety. Johnny Koch, a lobbyist representing Sprint Nextel, said he did not support the bill. “The cell phone is not that big of a deal when we look at all the other distractions that are commonly done today that are not included in this bill,” Koch said. Rep. Johnny Guinn, R-Jennings, opposed the bill and tried to table it, but failed 6-10. Rep. A.B. Franklin, D-Lake Charles, said he was driving from the State Capitol to a restaurant when he saw a woman run off the road because she was smoking a cigarette and talking on her phone while driving. Franklin said the scene worried him and added to his support of the bill.
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