When the state legislature gets back to work after the first of the year, Representative Bakari Sellers wants to ban hands-on cell phone use while driving.
He says, “My goal is just to make the roads safer. I think we all deserve that and I think those who don’t, that’s pretty selfish on their part.”
Sellers says Onstar and blue-tooths will still be available for use while driving, but texting and holding a cell phone in hand will be a violation of law, if passed. Sellers explains one obstacle they need to get through before the legislation is passed:
“As legislators we’re more guilty, and that’s going to be the hard part with passing this bill because we all know it’s something that should be done. I have a few colleagues who I completely understand, they hate government interference in people’s lives and I completely understand where they come from and they may not be for it, but there’s going to be some who say ‘I can’t live without doing this, I can’t be the one that keeps violating this law,” says Sellers.
More than a dozen states already banned texting while driving. In North Carolina, violators face up to one hundred dollars in fines.
Sellers says he knows some may not be on his side of the legislation. He knows one group of people that aren’t going to be for the idea.
“I do know one thing. I do know that the big cell phone companies won’t be too happy with this piece of legislation, but if you have any stock in bluetooth I guess you need to go buy some more,” says Sellers.
Overall, Sellers says he believes he’s making the right move, arguing that “This is comparable. I think drinking and driving and texting and emailing while driving are comparable. You’re not paying attention to the road.”
Sellers says if the law is passed, violators could face up to $250 in fines and two points on their license.
