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Senate committee advances bill to make most adult texting a secondary offense after testimony about stoplight tickets
Summary
SB 66 would stop officers from writing texting-related tickets when drivers are stopped (for example, at stoplights) and reclassify texting while driving for adults over 21 from a primary to a secondary offense; the Senate committee passed the bill despite opposition from state police and safety advocates who warned of enforcement and funding losses.
Senator Clark urged the Senate Transportation, Technology & Legislative Affairs Committee on SB 66, saying the bill would prevent tickets for phone use while a vehicle is stopped and change texting while driving for people over 21 from a primary to a secondary offense. Clark framed the measure as protecting law-abiding adults who use phones for work and as a response to what he called intrusive enforcement at stoplights.
Tim Rasch, a Hot Springs general contractor, described receiving two tickets while stopped at red lights and said he was not texting. Rasch told the committee he “shouldn't be fined for that,” and…
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