Bill to restrict teen cell phone use by teen drivers passes Senate

SALT LAKE CITY — Teen drivers who talk on cell phones could be fined $50 and cited with a class C misdemeanor under a bill passed Tuesday morning by the Utah Senate.
SB128, approved on a vote of 19-9, moves to the House for its consideration.
Sen. Ross Romero, D-Salt Lake, amended the bill to apply strictly to communicating on a wireless device.
The restriction was supported by the Utah PTA, firefighters, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the state of Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, Romero said.
More important, “parents can help students understand this is the law,” Romero said.
But some senators believe there will challenges for law enforcement in citing violators for the activity as a primary offense.
Sen. Daniel Thatcher, R-West Valley City, said the state already has laws regarding cell phone use by driving and distracted driving.
“At the end of the day, current law applies to all drivers,” Thatcher said. “This says we’re going to pull you over for doing nothing. This is not a good law.”
Romero said the penalty was reasonable. “The balance clearly goes to public safety,” he said.