LANSING (WWJ) - Michigan's governor wants drivers to put down their cellphones.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has called on the legislature to join 16 other states in adopting hands-free driving laws, which ban any use of a mobile devices while driving, with a few exceptions, under penalty of law. She outlined the proposal during her State of the State address Tuesday night.
"You cannot navigate the road if you are looking at your phone," she said.
Currently in Michigan, texting while driving is illegal. However, Whitmer says it's difficult to enforce and leaves many other forms of phone use open to drivers.
The proposed legislation would ban any use of a mobile device by any driver of any type of vehicle expect emergency responders or someone legitimately requesting emergency services via 911.
The first offense would be $100 or 16 hours of community service or both. The second offense would be $250 or 24 hours of community service or both.
If someone using a mobile device causes an accident, they would be subject to double the fines and could lose their license for up to 90 days for multiple incidences.
