Some Ohio lawmakers want to make it easier for police to pull over adults who are using their cell phones while driving.
Texting while driving, checking social media, talking on hand-held phones, fiddling with navigation apps are common − and dangerous − behaviors on Ohio roads. But police officers aren't allowed to pull adult drivers over just because they're messing with their phones.
Current law allows police to stop drivers age 17 and younger for texting while driving, but adults must commit another traffic violation first. State Reps. Brian Lampton, R-Beavercreek, an insurance agent, and Cindy Abrams, R-Harrison, a former police officer, want to change that.The bill is expected to gain approval in the Ohio House. And if the bill makes it to Gov. Mike DeWine, he'd sign it − he has repeatedly called for stronger laws.
Its chance of passage in the Ohio Senate is less clear. Senate President Matt Huffman, R-Lima, said current laws already address bad driving and he's not a fan of giving police more reasons to stop people. That said, Huffman is willing to give the bill a floor vote if others support it. Any bill that doesn't get approval in both chambers by the end of December dies and must be re-introduced next legislative session.make using a hand-held phone a primary offense for adults so officers can pull them over.require law enforcement to report the race of those ticketed for distracted driving.increase fines to $250 for second offense and $500 for third offense within two years.
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