The Detroit News
Lansing -- A texting-while-driving ban came closer to passage today after the House concurred with two bills passed in the Senate but failed to agree on a third.
The three bills in the package are linked together, meaning all three have to pass for the ban to take effect. Once they are all approved, the ban will take effect July 1.
A bill banning texting while driving, and another setting fines, are on their way to Gov. Jennifer Granholm's desk for signing. A vote on the third bill, which would prohibit making the offense part of the driving record, was postponed for the day.
The bills ban texting as a primary offense, meaning officers can pull somebody over just for texting. The House originally banned texting as a secondary offense, requiring another reason to pull a driver over.
State Rep. Shanelle Jackson, D-Detroit, urged her colleagues not to pass the ban as a primary offense. She said that would make it easier for police to use it to target drivers based on race.
"We need to acknowledge racial profiling is an important issue in the state," Jackson said, shortly before voting on the third bill was postponed for day. "Yes, we believe texting while driving is wrong, but we believe racial profiling also is wrong."
The ban is supported by the Michigan State Police, auto insurance companies and other groups concerned about the dangers of thumbing at the wheel.
Violating the law will be punishable by up to a $200 fine for the first offense, and up to $500 for additional offenses, with no points.
The three bills in the package are linked together, meaning all three have to pass for the ban to take effect. Once they are all approved, the ban will take effect July 1.
A bill banning texting while driving, and another setting fines, are on their way to Gov. Jennifer Granholm's desk for signing. A vote on the third bill, which would prohibit making the offense part of the driving record, was postponed for the day.
The bills ban texting as a primary offense, meaning officers can pull somebody over just for texting. The House originally banned texting as a secondary offense, requiring another reason to pull a driver over.
State Rep. Shanelle Jackson, D-Detroit, urged her colleagues not to pass the ban as a primary offense. She said that would make it easier for police to use it to target drivers based on race.
"We need to acknowledge racial profiling is an important issue in the state," Jackson said, shortly before voting on the third bill was postponed for day. "Yes, we believe texting while driving is wrong, but we believe racial profiling also is wrong."
The ban is supported by the Michigan State Police, auto insurance companies and other groups concerned about the dangers of thumbing at the wheel.
Violating the law will be punishable by up to a $200 fine for the first offense, and up to $500 for additional offenses, with no points.
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