Bills that would criminalize irresponsible car phone use have app...
Bills that would criminalize irresponsible car phone use have appeared in Minn. and Miss. Bill in Minn. House would make it criminal misdemeanor to use any mobile telephone while driving motor vehicles in state. Bill (HF-200) would require penalties…
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for violators but doesn’t specify what they should be. Sponsor, state Rep. Mike Jaros (D-Duluth), acknowledged that total ban on car phone use was longshot, but said bill would help bring issue of irresponsible mobile phone use into public view. Jaros said he was open to compromise, such as allowing hands-free mobile phones and emergency calls to 911. Measure is in House Crime Prevention Committee. Miss. car phone bill (HB-159) would make it criminal misdemeanor to have auto accident because of talking on mobile phone. If police determined mobile phone use caused or contributed to accident, offending driver could be fined $1,000 under bill. Conviction also would be considered persuasive evidence of negligence in any lawsuit arising from accident. Bill is in House Judiciary Committee.