(The Center Square) — The Sunshine State could be taking a harder line with people who use a handheld device while driving after a bill was advanced this week.
House Bill 1469 is sponsored by state Rep. Allison Tant, D-Tallahassee, and would prohibit a person from using a wireless device in a handheld manner while operating a motor vehicle.
Bill sponsor Tant said Monday while presenting her bill to the House Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee that the bill was filed on behalf of a constituent whose son was killed by a distracted driver.
“[The bill] was brought to me by a constituent whose son was not only hit by a distracted driver, but completely run over and killed in just a tragic situation,” Tant said. “We already prohibit texting while driving, this will also mean we can’t phone while driving, and that is while we are holding our phones and driving.”
Tant clarified that if a vehicle does not have a system where a cell phone can connect, a cell phone can still be used in a holder on speaker phone, but the phone is not to be held in a hand while the person is operating a motor vehicle.