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Representative Slater backs amendment to raise local court fee cap for hands-free violations; bill passes committee
Summary
A committee amendment to House Bill 1555 would cap local court costs on hands-free driving citations at 50% of routine moving-violation costs (estimates $75'$140 in some jurisdictions). Sponsor Representative Slater said current maximum penalties (fine plus $10 costs) undercut local courts. The committee passed the amended bill.
Representative Slater told the House Transportation Committee that House Bill 1555 addresses enforcement and fee structures tied to citations for driving while holding an electronic device. "These violations are cited over 12,000 times in our state," Slater said, and current law effectively limits first-offense penalties to a $50 fine plus $10 in court costs.
The amendment Slater offered would cap local court fees and costs at 50% of the routine expense charged for other moving violations, a percentage he said is intended to better align local recovery of administrative costs without substantially increasing the statutory fine. Slater said jurisdictions vary and estimated the additional costs could look "about $75 to $140 at the high end." After discussion and a roll-call vote, the clerk reported the bill passed the committee (reported vote: 3 ayes, 2 noes); Slater said the bill will move on to the finance committee.
