Video: House Resurrects Texting-While-Driving Ban it Killed in 2014

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BY JEFF AMY
Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. — House members are moving ahead with a ban on texting and social media use while driving, after killing a similar bill in the closing moments of the 2014 legislative session.

The House voted 98-20 Friday to approve House Bill 389. It goes to the Senate for further debate.

The measure would ban drivers from writing, sending or reading text messages, emails or social media messages. It set a $25 fine until July 1, 2016 and $100 after that. Making and receiving phone calls would still be legal.

Mississippi is one of only six states without a texting ban. The state does ban texting for certain drivers under 18.

Some question whether the measure’s enforceability, but supporters say it will encourage safety in the same way as mandating seat belt use.

A bill which would ban texting and driving is back on the table.

The bill was originally considered during last year’s legislative session, but died on the senate floor.

However, the house today put up a 98-20 vote to approve House Bill 389, which would make it illegal to write, send or read text messages while driving.

Legislators put in place a $25 fine for each offense, but after July 1, 2016, that fine will quadruple to $100.

Currently, Mississippi bans texting and driving for minors, and is one of six states without such a ban.

The bill will now move on to the Senate for consideration.