Jeffrey Hu ’14
The Pennsylvania State Senate recently passed a bill banning texting while driving. Despite loud criticism that the ban is backwards and ineffective, the bill will take effect in early March 2012.
Pennsylvania is the 35th state to pass a bill restricting the use of cell phones while driving. At the bill-signing event in early November, the PA Governor Tony Corbett said “We’ve said it in the past, but today we are making it law: If you have an urgent need to text, you must pull over and park. … No text message is worth a human life. The message of this legislation is drive now and text later.”
Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and other cities throughout the state have already passed measures that ban texting and talking on the phone while driving. Because state law supersedes local law, these measures will no longer be enforced once the state law goes into effect. As a result, many members of the Philadelphia City Council have expressed frustration with the new law. One councilman said, “I am very disappointed people view this as progress.”
Many people have criticized the bill for its difficulty to enforce. Police officers have to see the offender text while driving to pull them over; many have pointed out that people tend to text below the level of the windshield. In addition, if a police officer pulls over a driver, there may not be substantial proof that the driver was texting without acquiring a warrant to search the driver’s phone. According to Police Chief John J. Norris, it does not make sense to go through all of this trouble simply to fine the driver $50.
In an effort to limit distracted driving, the House also considered banning the use of all handheld cell phones and only allowing hands-free systems. However, strong opposition from cell-phone companies has prevented passage of such a bill. As a result, the most the state can do is emphasize the importance of being attentive and responsible while driving.