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House rejects hands‑free requirement; cell‑phone bill fails after heated debate
Summary
The House debated H.B. 182, a measure to make handheld cellphone use a secondary offense when combined with another traffic violation; after extended debate about enforceability and evidence, an amendment to broaden the bill failed and the measure failed the final vote, 33-38.
A measure to curb handheld cellphone use while driving failed on the Utah House floor on Feb. 16 after several hours of debate over scope and enforceability.
Representative Holdaway introduced H.B. 182 as a narrowly written safety measure that would make handheld cell‑phone use a secondary offense — meaning an officer could cite handheld use only if the driver had committed another traffic violation. Holdaway cited a Deseret News poll and statements from the National Highway Traffic Safety…
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