|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State
Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski |
|
Pashinski disappointed with diluted teen driving bill
HARRISBURG, July 2 – State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, joined his House colleagues this week in rejecting Senate changes that watered down legislation aimed at reducing junior driver accidents and fatalities.
The House vote to non-concur sends the bill to a conference committee where the differences between the two versions of the bill can be addressed
"The main purpose of this bill was to saves lives and adequately prepare our young drivers with the skills and knowledge related to the safe operation of a machine that weights thousands of pounds and can travel at dangerous speeds," Pashinski said.
Pashinski said the Senate changed (H.B. 67) to make text messaging or talking on a cell phone by a teen driver a secondary offense, which would allow law enforcement to charge teens that use a cell phone while driving only if they were stopped for another violation.
The legislation, which passed the House last year, would have made violations a primary offense. The bill would prohibit holders of learner's permits or junior driver's licenses from using interactive wireless communication devices such as text-messaging phones, personal digital assistants and laptop computers, while driving, except when reporting an emergency or accident.
The House version of the bill also would have expanded from 50 to 65 the number of behind-the-wheel driving hours that teens must have before they can a license. The Senate removed that requirement.
"The primary intent of the House version of the legislation was to allow law enforcement to identify violators and hopefully prevent accidents," Pashinski said.