Texting While Driving Bill on Gov's Desk

By: Mac Mclean | TriCities.com
Published: May 05, 2009

Thanks to the work of a Bristol legislator, a bill to ban texting while driving in Tennessee is on its way to Gov. Phil Bredesen for his signature.

State Rep. Jon Lundberg, a Republican, said making texting while driving illegal in the state has been one of his top priorities during the current session of the Tennessee General Assembly.

Last week, the legislation was given final approval in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. On Friday, it was sent to the governor’s desk for his signature.

If Bredesen signs the bill into law, the ban could take effect July 1, said Lundberg, who represents Bristol and the northern edge of Sullivan County in the 99-member House.

“[Starting in July] if you’re caught texting while driving in Tennessee you’re going to pay a $50 fine and $25 in court costs,” Lundberg said of the ban’s penalties.

The ban would not apply to on-duty law enforcement and rescue squad personnel who use computer screens to transmit messages, Lundberg said.

Texting while driving is currently banned in seven states and the District of Columbia, according to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association.

Another three states – Alabama, Utah and Virginia – have passed similar bans in their legislatures this year. Virginia’s ban will also become law July 1.

This is the second time Lundberg has worked to get a texting ban. His effort last year ended when the bill was sent to a summer study committee, which Lundberg said is a step used to kill legislation without bringing it up for a vote.

This year’s effort almost met a similar fate after one of the bill’s opponents, Rep. Bill Harmon, D-Dunlap, put an amendment on the proposal that would have required the state to put up new road signs informing motorists of the ban at every border crossing in the state.

Lundberg said making and installing the signs would have cost $14,000, which would have kept the legislation from moving forward.

Harmon removed his amendment after Lundberg agreed to broadcast a warning about the ban on the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s electronic billboards.

Others were concerned the ban would be hard to enforce. But Lundberg said he was reassured by several law enforcement officers that they “will take care of the enforcement if we focus on the policy.”

The state Senate adopted the ban with a 23-6 vote on April 23. It passed the House 67-24 on April 27 and has already been signed by Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, of Blountville, who represents Johnson and Sullivan counties in the 30-member Senate.

“It should be on its way to the governor’s desk right now,” Lundberg said. “It would be highly unusual for the governor to veto something like this.”

gmclean@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2518