Last week, the Arizona House announced its plans to debate possible legislation that would ban distracted driving involving cellphone use. This ban will focus on drivers with a learner’s permit and, if passed, will only be enforced during the first six months after a teenager has been issued an unrestricted license to drive.
Arizona is currently one of the four states without a statewide ban against cellphone use while operating a motor vehicle. Even though certain local municipalities have placed restrictions against distracted driving, there is still much opposition to a statewide ban.
The proposal for a debate arrives a mere two days after Speaker J.D. Mesnard reintroduced the legislation that had been put on the back burner by the Rules Committee Chairman, Rep. Phil Lovas. Mesnard took over Lovas’ seat in the committee after Lovas left to take a job with the Trump Administration.
The proposal to ban texting and driving in Arizona was initially presented by Sen. Karen Fann, and it has already passed the Senate. However, House majority leaders seem to still be divided on the ruling.
House Majority Whip Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, opposes the proposal due to fears of expanded restrictions later on.
“I think it’s already against the law,” she said, saying police can cite motorists for distracted driving if they weave in traffic because they’re on the phone. Townsend also expressed that once Arizona bans texting while driving for teens, it would only be a matter of time before all motorists have to abide by the same rules.
House Majority Leader John Allen, R-Scottsdale, also opposes the ban, stating, “I think it’s a parental authority thing.”
“I had three sons and they all had phones and cars. I just told them not to do it; I told them there’d be consequences,” he said during an interview with Capitol Media Services.
A total of 14 states and some territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, have laws in place that prohibit all drivers from using hand-held devices while driving. In these states, law enforcement officers are allowed to issue a ticket for distracted driving involving a hand-held cellphone, even if no other traffic laws are being violated. The state of Washington was the first state to place a ban on texting and driving for all drivers back in 2007.
There are currently no states in the U.S. that ban ALL cellphone use in vehicles, regardless of whether or not the phone is a hands-free device. The only restrictions that have been placed on all cellphone use focus solely on novice drivers.
A date for the House floor debate on the Arizona texting ban has yet to be scheduled.