The Louisiana House of Representatives today is schedule to vote on a bill to outlaw holding a phone while behind the wheel.
It is currently illegal to hold a phone while driving in a school zone.
"Proposed law extends the prohibition to include general usage of wireless telecommunications devices while driving," the legislative digest for the bill explains.
It is also currently illegal to text and drive or access social media while behind the wheel.
The bill would expand the things that are not legal to do while driving.
"Proposed law adds to present law accessing, viewing, posting, editing, or creating a video, photograph, or other image; accessing, reading, viewing, composing, browsing, transmitting, saving, or retrieving electronic data from any application other than media; and the use of any other application or feature of such a device by making manual entries of letters, numbers, symbols, or any combination thereof."
If the legislation passes the House, then passes the Senate and gets the governor's approval; the penalties would change. Right now the fine for holding a phone in a school zone is $500.
"Present law provides that the first violation of present law is punishable by a fine of not more than $500. Proposed law modifies present law by reducing the fine from $500 to $200. Present law provides that each subsequent violation is punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 and 60-day driver's license suspension. Proposed law modifies present law providing that a second violation is punishable by a fine of not more than $300, and a third violation is punishable by a fine of not more than $300 with a 30-day driver's license suspension."
The bill passed in committee on a 13 - 2 vote.