The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Pennsylvania General Assembly House of Representatives will be taking a final vote on a bill that would ban the use of handheld cellular phones and other wireless devices while operating a motor vehicle. The bill amends a proposed statute that would prohibit drivers from sending text messages while driving. The proposed statute would add a new section to the motor vehicle code. Under the proposed 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3316 statute, drivers would be prohibited from using any “interactive wireless device” while operating a motor vehicle. An interactive wireless device is defined as “[a] wireless telephone, personal digital assistant, smart phone, portable or mobile computer, or similar device which can be used for texting, e-mailing, browsing the Internet or instant messaging, but does not include a device being used exclusively as a global positioning or navigation system, or a system or device that is physically or electronically integrated into the vehicle.” The statute would permit a driver to use a hands-free device and to use the wireless device as a navigation system. Anyone convicted of violating the statute would be subject to a $50 fine.
For more information, go to:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10025/1031007-100.stm?cmpid=latest.xml