A bill proposing substantial
increases in the penalties for texting while driving cleared the Senate Courts
of Justice Committee on Monday.
The bill would allow officers to
pull over drivers solely for using handheld mobile devices for an activity
other than talking.
The bill would increase fines for
primary and secondary offenses, raising them to $250 and $500 respectively. The
bill would create a $500 mandatory fine if a driver convicted of reckless
driving is also convicted of texting while driving.
The bill is identical to legislation
that cleared a House committee last week. Both bills now head to the full House
and full Senate this week.
