FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Lauren Rooney House Democratic Communications Office Phone: 717-787-7895 Fax: 717-783-6839 Email: lrooney@pahouse.net	State Rep. Josh Shapiro D-Montgomery www.pahouse.com/shapiro

Shapiro applauds Senate vote to ban

hand-held cell phones while driving

HARRISBURG, June 28 – State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, said he is pleased the Senate has joined his fight to stop drivers from using their hand-held cell phones while behind the wheel. The Senate passed an amendment to H.B. 804 Tuesday that would make it illegal to drive while using a hand-held cell phone, punishable by a $250 fine.

“The Senate vote to support my legislation and disconnect distracted drivers is an important step toward banning the use of hand-held cell phones while driving,” Shapiro said.

Unfortunately, the Senate passed a weaker version of the measure than the bill introduced by Shapiro last week (H.B. 2821) by downgrading the offense from a summary offense to a secondary offense. The Senate legislation would require a motorist to be pulled over for another traffic violation before he or she could be fined for using a hand-held cell phone. Under the Shapiro bill, a driver could be pulled over simply for using a hand-held cell phone. 

“To some extent, the Senate version of my legislation takes the bite out of what we are trying to do: make our highways safer for everyone,” Shapiro said.

Shapiro introduced H.B. 2821 on June 21. It would make the use of a hand-held cell phone while driving a primary offense punishable by a $250 fine. The Shapiro bill and the Senate-passed bill both allow for the use of hands-free cell phone head sets while driving. Exceptions to both versions would include law enforcement officers and operators of emergency vehicles when on duty and acting in their official capacities, and drivers who have reason to fear for their safety or who are making an emergency 911 call. Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia have laws banning the use of hand-held cell phones while driving.

At a recent news conference in Harrisburg, Shapiro noted that the use of hand-held phones contributed to more than 1,709 crashes in Pennsylvania in 2004. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study found cell phones are the No. 1 distraction for drivers. The study also found distracted drivers are three times as likely to be involved in a crash.

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