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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Joseph F. Markosek
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Senate weakens teen driving bill
HARRISBURG, May 24 – House Transportation Committee Chairman Joseph Markosek said the state Senate today weakened his bill that aimed to reduce accidents and fatalities involving junior drivers by making violations such as texting or talking on a cell phone while driving a secondary offense.
"Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of teenage deaths, and we have seen too many fatal crashes caused by young drivers who are distracted," said Markosek, D-Allegheny/Westmoreland. "My legislation would allow law enforcement to be proactive and stop these drivers before an accident occurs. Unfortunately, the Senate saw fit to amend it so nothing can be done until after the fact."
Markosek said senators adopted the amendment over the objections of Senate Transportation Committee Chairman John Rafferty. The Senate also voted to table an amendment offered by Sen. Jim Ferlo, which would have expanded the prohibition to include handheld cell phone use by all drivers.
House Bill 67, which passed the House last year, was written by Markosek so violations would be 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 devices, personal digital assistants and laptop computers, while driving, except when reporting an emergency or accident.
Unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, junior drivers would be restricted to transporting no more than one passenger younger than 18, except siblings or relatives, for the first six months having a license and no more than three passengers younger than 18 for the remainder of the junior driver’s license term.
Additionally, the bill would make it a primary offense to not wear a seat belt for drivers and front seat occupants under 18 or to fail to secure a child from 4- to 8-years-old in a booster seat.
Currently, holders of a learner's permit or licensed junior drivers are not prohibited from using electronic devices while driving, nor are they subject to passenger limits.
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