Texting and Driving Bill Meets Opposition in Legislature

Intro:	Some state lawmakers would like to see new texting and driving legislation as a primary law. Cole Karr has the report from the Capitol.
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Wrap: A bill to extend the ban on texting while driving for all Missouri drivers is meeting opposition.

The bill would make texting while driving a secondary offense.

This means law enforcement cannot stop anyone solely for the offense.

Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Republican Bill Stouffer says secondary enforcement makes the bill a non-starter.

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Description: "This secondary offense I don't support at all. It needs to be a primary offense. If you aren't paying attention to the road, you need to be pulled over and stopped."

St. Louis Democratic Senator Robin Wright-Jones sponsors the bill.

She says making the law a primary offense could lead to passage and may create a substitute soon.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Cole Karr.

Intro:	New texting while driving legislation hits the wrong key with some state law makers. Cole Karr has the report from the Capitol.
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Wrap: The Senate Transportation Committee heard testimony on a new bill proposed to expand the ban on texting while driving to all Missouri drivers.

Southern Missouri Republican Senator Chuck Purgason says this law steps too far into personal freedom.

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Description: It's like telling somebody to wear a seat belt or not. I always wear a seat belt and should wear a seat belt, but I don't think government and law enforcement needs to use that as a primary reason to pull someone over.

St. Louis Democratic Senator Robin Wright-Jones sponsors the bill.

She says she is focusing on phones because they are a distraction of choice and there is high usage of phones while driving which leads to distraction.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Cole Karr.

Intro:	The latest texting and driving legislation has been taken up in committee by state lawmakers. Cole Karr has the story from the Capitol.
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Wrap: The Senate Transportation Committee took up a bill to extend the age limit on texting while driving for all ages.

The committee did not vote to move on the issue.

St. Louis Democratic Senator and sponsor Robin Wright-Jones points to safety and says the past is proof.

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Description: "We've had some deaths already that have been attributed to texting while driving and certainly you cannot have your eyes on your phone and on the road at the same time."

Southern Missouri Republican Senator Chuck Purgason says others have died trying to reach for a CD under a seat or getting an item from a glove box while driving.

He says there are already laws for distracted driving that need to be enforced before new laws like this are passed.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Cole Karr.