HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania's state Senate wants to expand a ban on texting while driving and approved legislation on Thursday that would increase the penalties for motorists who are handling their cell phones for almost any activity while driving.
The bill, approved 37-11, goes to the state House of Representatives.
Pennsylvania first banned texting while driving in 2012, a summary offense punishable by a $50 fine.
However, lawmakers say the current law in place has not been effective in reducing distracted driving and is tough to enforce.
"What good is a law if we can't enforce it and you can't meet the goal, which is to prevent crashes from happening and save lives?" said the bill's main sponsor, State Senator Rosemary Brown (R-Lackawanna, Monroe and Wayne Counties).
Law enforcement offers agree an expansion is needed.
"It's very limited in what can be enforced," said Lt. Brian Wilbur of the Springettsbury Township Police Department. "[It] create[s] a challenge because obviously if an officer pulls up next to somebody or sees somebody with their phone we can't articulate if they are dialing a phone number or texting."
Under the new legislation, motorists cannot handle their cell phones to make a call or almost any other function while driving. That includes while sitting in traffic or at a stoplight.
"The more we can eliminate some of that grey area, the easier it is for us to do our job," said Lt. Wilbur. "This narrows it down a little bit as far as if we see you with a cellphone in your hand it does make it a little bit more easier to enforce."
However, the expanded ban still allows people to push a single button to start or end a phone conversation on a phone that is within easy reach and to use it for navigation or listening to music.
A first offense is punishable by a $150 fine. The bill carries exceptions for emergency responders and for people calling 911.
Offenders who cause serious accidents could get more time in prison.
In cases where the offender is convicted of homicide by vehicle, a court can add a sentence of up to five years. In cases where the offender is convicted of aggravated assault by vehicle, a court can add a sentence of up to two years.
The bill would give drivers a grace period of a year in which they would only receive a written warning for violating it.
It would require driving tests to ask a question about the effects of distracted driving and student driving manuals to include a section on distracted driving and the penalties.
Lawmakers hope the clearer legislation will allow for better enforcement, and ultimately save more lives on Pennsylvania roads.
"At the end of the day this is about changing behaviors to be more responsible," said State Sen. Brown. "[It will] help drivers on our roadway stay as safe as possible."