Rep. Scott Hill, R-Abilene, introduced a bill requiring all local school districts in Kansas forbid use of all privately owned cellphones and other communication devices during regular school hours. A separate bill passed by the House set a $60 fine for under-18 drivers who use a cellphone in a school zone. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)
TOPEKA — The Kansas House endorsed a $60 fine for motorists under 18 caught using a cellular telephone while driving through a school zone during periods of high pedestrian traffic and a House committee worked on a separate bill banning student use of privately owned electronic devices throughout regular school hours.
Both measures were testament to the scourge of distraction from personal cellphones, computers, tablets and texting devices tied to traffic accidents and lost focus on academics.
A bipartisan 86-30 majority voted Thursday to send House Bill 2499 to the Kansas Senate. The measure sponsored by AAA Kansas contained the 18-or-younger cellphone prohibition for drivers in school zones. It also included an all-ages ban on cellphone use when driving through road construction zones with workers present.