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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Josh Shapiro |
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Shapiro votes to send
weakened distracted driving bill to conference committee
HARRISBURG, July 1 – State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, today voted to reject the Senate’s watered down version of distracted driving legislation, which would have originally imposed strict rules for teen drivers in Pennsylvania.
By a bipartisan vote of 126-71, the House rejected the weakened Senate version.
House Bill 67 originally passed the House in April 2009 by a bipartisan vote of 168-24 and would have made it a primary offense for a junior driver to text or talk while driving. In May the Senate amended the bill to make it a secondary offense, meaning law enforcement officers could only cite teen drivers for using a cell phone if they had been stopped for another offense or been involved in an accident.
The House also voted 189-6 to ban hand-held cell phones and texting while driving for adults. The Senate version rejected by the House today did not include that language.
"The House sent a clear message today – we want a strong distracted driving bill that will save lives in Pennsylvania," Shapiro said.
Shapiro said he will continue to work toward achieving a stronger and more comprehensive teen safety and distracted driving law for Pennsylvania.
Shapiro represents the 153rd Legislative
District in Montgomery County. For more information, visit www.pahouse.com/Shapiro.
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