2009 New Driving Laws

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2009 New Distracted Driving Laws

July, 2009 Hands Free Laws Update

Arkansas - Senate Bill 309 - Addresses issues related to the licensing of youthful drivers, to amend the law regarding restricted driver's licenses, learner's licenses, and intermediate licenses. A driver with a learner's license shall not use a cellular telephone device or other interactive wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle.

Arkansas - Senate Bill 28 - Prohibits a driver under eighteen years of age from operating a motor vehicle while using a cellular telephone device.

Arkansas - House Bill 1013 - Establishes Paul's Law, prohibits the drivers of motor vehicles from using hand held cellular telephones to engage in text messaging.

Colorado - House Bill 1094 - Effective 12/1/2009 - Wireless telephone use while driving - under 18 complete prohibition - over 18 prohibit texting - exceptions. Prohibits persons who are under 18 years of age from using a wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle. Prohibits persons who are 18 years of age and older from using a wireless telephone to send text messages while operating a motor vehicle. Makes exceptions for contacting a public safety entity or during an emergency. Makes violations a class A traffic infraction. Identifies wireless telephone use in a motor vehicle as a matter of statewide concern.

Connecticut - House Bill 6410 - Mobile Telephones in the Military - Concerns the use of hand-held mobile telephones by members of the armed forces while operating a motor vehicle, allows a member of the armed forces to use a hand-held mobile telephone or mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle in performance of official duties or while operating a military vehicle.

Illinois - House Bill 71 - Ready to be signed into law by the Governor (July 2009), Once signed - A person may not operate a motor vehicle on a roadway while using an electronic communication device to compose, send, or read an electronic message. There are exceptions and a Hands-Free Device may be used.

Illinois - Illinois House Bill 72 - Ready to be signed into law by the Governor (July 2009), Once signed - Prohibits the use a wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle on a roadway in a school speed zone or on a highway in a construction or maintenance speed zone.

Maryland - House Bill 72 - Prohibiting a person from using a text messaging device to write or send a text message while operating a motor vehicle in motion or in the travel portion of the roadway; specifying exceptions for use of a global positioning system, or text messaging to contact a 9-1-1 system; etc.

Maryland - Senate Bill 98 - Prohibits a person from using a text messaging device to write or send a text message while operating a motor vehicle, provides an exception the use of a global positioning system and for the use of a text messaging device to contact a 9-1-1 system.

Maine - Senate Bill 15 - Makes failure to maintain control of a motor vehicle a traffic infraction, defines operation of a motor vehicle while distracted.

North Carolina - Senate Bill 96 - Texting while Driving - effective December 1, 2009 - Makes it unlawful to use a mobile telephone for e-mail or text messaging while operating a vehicle on a public street, highway or public vehicular area, provides exceptions for law enforcement, ambulance drivers and members of a fire department.

Oregon - House Bill 2377 - Ready to be signed into law by the Governor (July 2009), Once signed - Prohibits person of any age from operating motor vehicle while using mobile communication device except under certain circumstances. Does allow for Hands-Free operation.

Rhode Island - Senate Bill 204 - Makes text messaging while driving a motor vehicle offense, provides fines and penalties.

Tennessee - Senate Bill 393 - Relates to motor vehicles, prohibits sending or reading text messages while operating a motor vehicle.

Texas - House Bill 55 - Provides that an operator may not use a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle within a school crossing zone unless the wireless communication device is used with a hands-free device.

Texas - House Bill 2730 - Drivers under the age of 18 and Wireless Communication Devices

Texas - House Bill 390

A driver education course for a student who is under 18 years of age must require the student to complete 34 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction, including at least 10 hours of instruction that takes place at night. A person under 18 years of age may not operate a motor vehicle during the 12-month period following issuance of an original Class A, B, or C driver's license to the person: after 10 p.m. and before 5 a.m. unless the operation of the vehicle is necessary for the operator to attend or participate in employment or a school-related activity or because of a medical emergency.

Utah - House Bill 290 - Prohibits a person from using a wireless communication device for text messaging or electronic mail communication while operating a motor vehicle, provides exceptions to the wireless communication device prohibition, provides that it is an infraction for violating the wireless communication device prohibition, provides that a violation of this section is not a reportable violation and points may not be assessed against a person for the violation.

Virginia - Senate Bill 136 - (2008) Wireless Telecommunications Devices - Prohibits the use of wireless telecommunications devices by persons operating school buses, handheld or otherwise, except in emergencies, when the vehicle is lawfully parked or for purposes of dispatching.

Virginia - House Bill 1876 - Text Messaging and Emailing While Driving - Prohibits operation of a motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth while using any handheld personal communications device to manually enter multiple letters or text or to read a text message, provides exemptions for using global positioning systems (GPS), reading caller identification information, and using a wireless telecommunications device to report an emergency, exempts operators of emergency vehicles.

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