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Senate Approves Ban on Text Messaging While Driving, Elevates Penalties for Serious Harm
Summary
The Senate passed first substitute SB 149 to prohibit text messaging while driving, treating texting as a primary offense in many circumstances and aligning serious incidents with higher penalties; sponsor cited studies equating texting risk to drunk driving.
The Utah Senate approved a prohibition on text messaging while driving on Day 30 after extended floor debate that focused on safety, enforceability and scope.
Senator Hilliard, sponsor of the first substitute to Senate Bill 149, said the legislation targets texting because the hand-eye coordination required for texting greatly distracts drivers and, he said citing a study, can be "twice as dangerous as a DUI." Senators questioned narrowly drawn language…
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