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SB 5289 - Prohibits Cell-Phone Use on Highways - Washington Key Vote

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Title: Prohibits Cell-Phone Use on Highways

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that prohibits cell-phone use on highways, effective January 1, 2019.

Highlights:

  • Prohibits engaging in any activity not related to the actual operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that interferes with the safe operation of such vehicle while driving on any highway, which includes the use of an electronic mobile device (Sec. 1).

  • Specifies that distracted driving is a traffic infraction subject to a base penalty of $30, which will be deposited into the Distracted Driving Prevention account and may only be appropriated for programs dedicated to reducing distracted driving and improving driver education on distracted driving (Sec. 1).

  • Specifies that a second or subsequent offense is subject to twice the penalty (Sec. 1).

  • Specifies that this bill does not apply to (Sec. 1):

    • A driver using a mobile device to contact emergency services;

    • The use of a system by a transit system employee and the transit system’s dispatch services;

    • An individual employed as a commercial motor vehicle driver who uses a personal electronic device within the scope of their job’s requirements; and

    • An individual operating an authorized emergency vehicle.

  • Prohibits a finding that a person has committed an infraction for using a personal electronic device while driving from being included on a driver abstract provided to insurance companies for the first offense committed within a five-year period (Sec. 1).

  • Moves the effective date of this bill from January 1, 2018 to January 1, 2019 (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Title: Prohibits Cell-Phone Use on Highways

NOTE: THIS CHAMBER HAS REFUSED TO CONCUR WITH THE AMENDMENTS OF THE OPPOSING CHAMBER, HOWEVER NO VOTES WERE TAKEN.

See How Your Politicians Voted

Title: Prohibits Cell-Phone Use on Highways

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits cell-phone use on public highways.

Highlights:

  • Prohibits engaging in any activity not related to the actual operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that interferes with the safe operation of such vehicle while driving on any highway, which includes the use of an electronic mobile device (Sec. 1).

  • Specifies that distracted driving is a traffic infraction subject to a base penalty of $30, which will be deposited into the Distracted Driving Prevention account and may only be appropriated for programs dedicated to reducing distracted driving and improving driver education on distracted driving (Sec. 1).

  • Specifies that a second or subsequent offense is subject to twice the penalty (Sec. 1).

  • Specifies that this bill does not apply to (Sec. 1):

    • A driver using a mobile device to contact emergency services;

    • The use of a system by a transit system employee and the transit system’s dispatch services;

    • An individual employed as a commercial motor vehicle driver who uses a personal electronic device within the scope of their job’s requirements; and

    • An individual operating an authorized emergency vehicle.

  • Prohibits a finding that a person has committed an infraction for using a personal electronic device while driving from being included on a driver abstract provided to insurance companies for the first offense committed within a five-year period (Sec. 1).

  • Moves the effective date of this bill from January 1, 2018 to January 1, 2019 (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

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