A bipartisan coalition of Mississippi state lawmakers, Cellular South and the Mississippi Department of Public Safety are supporting efforts to win passage of a bill that would restrict cell phone texting while driving by teenagers.
Lawmakers are considering a Mississippi House of Representatives amendment to Senate Bill 2280 by Senator Kelvin Butler, D-Magnolia, which would prohibit 15- and 16-year-old teenagers with intermediate licenses and temporary learning and driving permits from texting while driving.
While some wireless carriers are opposed to restrictions on cell phone use while driving, Cellular South says it strongly supports the legislation and a ban on text messaging by all drivers.
Under the legislation, violators of the texting ban could be fined up to $500 for each infraction and up to $1,000 if the driver is involved in an accident while texting on a cell phone. Nine states already prohibit teenagers from texting while driving and another seven states have a text messaging ban for drivers of all ages.