Updated: Senate votes on cell phone bill

The Senate is now taking up passed the bill to make it a primary offense to talk on the cell phone (without a hands-free device) while driving.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Tracy Eide, said in the time it takes to send a text, you could travel the length of a football field. She said texting and telephoning while driving are dangerous and should be outlawed.

“Distracted drivers should be penalized … if they’re eating or putting on makeup, fiddling with the radio … whatever it is, that’s distracted driving,” Sen. Tim Sheldon said. “I’m going to register maybe one of the few No votes,” he said.

“This is just a real frustration,” said Sen. Cheryl Pflug. She said when the original bill was passed, lawmakers said it would only be a primary offense. She said she’s since spent lots of money on hands-free devices that don’t work.

Tags: cell phone while driving