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House passes distracted-driving measure making cellphone use a secondary offense; debate centers on enforcement and equity
Summary
The House passed a bill that would make handheld cellphone use while driving a secondary offense after a primary stop, drawing hours of debate over civil liberties, enforcement practices and likely impacts on crash deaths and insurance rates.
The Louisiana House approved House Bill 19 on May 5, creating a state prohibition on certain handheld wireless device uses while operating a motor vehicle. Sponsor Representative Greg Glorioso characterized the bill as a safety measure intended to reduce crash fatalities linked to distracted driving.
On the House floor Glorioso cited data and argued the measure will reduce deaths and injuries: "Between 2020 and 2024, 871 people died in Louisiana because of the distracted driving," he said, noting that in other states similar laws had led to reduced fatality rates and lower insurance…
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