Bill Text: PA SB143 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Providing for prohibiting the operation of motor vehicles while using electronic wireless communications devices.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-4)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2009-07-10 - Referred to TRANSPORTATION [SB143 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-SB143-Introduced.html

  

 

    

PRINTER'S NO.  456

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

SENATE BILL

 

No.

143

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY TOMLINSON, McILHINNEY, ERICKSON, STACK, WILLIAMS, RAFFERTY, MUSTO, O'PAKE, COSTA, WOZNIAK, BOSCOLA AND FERLO, MARCH 2, 2009

  

  

REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 2, 2009  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

1

Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

2

Statutes, providing for prohibiting the operation of motor

3

vehicles while using electronic wireless communications

4

devices.

5

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

6

hereby enacts as follows:

7

Section 1.  Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

8

Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:

9

§ 3316.  Prohibiting use of electronic wireless communications

10

devices.

11

(a)  Prohibition.--Except as otherwise provided in this

12

section, no person shall operate a motor vehicle upon a public

13

highway and use an electronic wireless communications device to

14

send, read or write a text message while the vehicle is in

15

motion. A person does not send, read or write a text message

16

when the person reads, selects or enters a phone number or name

17

in an electronic wireless communications device for the purpose

18

of making a phone call. A conviction or detainment under this

 


1

subsection by State or local law enforcement agencies shall

2

occur only as a secondary action when a driver of a motor

3

vehicle has been detained or convicted of any other provision of

4

this title.

5

(b)  Applicability.--This section shall not apply to a person

6

operating:

7

(1)  an emergency vehicle; or

8

(2)  while in the performance of their official duties: a

9

police officer or peace officer; or a member of a fire

10

department, district or company.

11

(c)  Penalty.--Any person who violates this section shall be

12

guilty of a summary offense with a maximum fine of $100. A

13

violation of subsection (a) shall not result in the accumulation

14

of points under this title.

15

(d)  Definitions.--As used in this section, the following

16

words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this

17

subsection:

18

"Electronic wireless communications device."  An electronic

19

device that permits the user to send or receive electronic

20

communications but excludes a voice-activated global positioning

21

or navigation system affixed to the vehicle.

22

"Text message."  A message consisting of words typed or

23

entered on a keypad of the electronic wireless communication

24

device and sent electronically.

25

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

- 2 -

 


feedback