MA: Car Safety Act (Statute)

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

I propose the following amendment:

Section 2 shall read:

2. The action of text messaging on a mobile phone in a moving vehicle is not permitted for car drivers.  Hands-free usage of mobile phones, i.e. the use of hands-free mobile phone equipment, is exempted from this clause. Car drivers who violate this regulation shall be fined $100.

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

Voting is now open on the amendment.  Members will vote AYE, NAY, or ABSTAIN.  This will be a 24-hour vote.

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

AYE

[big bad fab]

NAY

ZuWo's amendment is enough to have a coherent and pragmatic text.

[ZuWo]

Nay

Now I hope the rejection of this compromise amendment does not sink the entire bill, but as I previously pointed out I think both texting and talking on the phone should be outlawed.

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

Voting is now closed.  The AYEs are 1, and the NAYs are 2, with 2 not voting.  The NAYs have it, and the amendment is not passed.  Debate will now resume for 24 hours.

[ZuWo]

Inks, Cathcon, let me ask you a straightforward question: Can you live with a ban on phone calls for car drivers or is this specific aspect a reason for you to reject the entire bill?

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

I'm between a NAY and an ABSTAIN vote right now.  It won't be an AYE from me how it is currently though.

[Cathcon]

Damn my indecision...

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

I'm leaning toward NAY.

[ZuWo]

Back in September 2010, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the US published some statistics on "distracted driving fatalities". The report showed that more than 5400 people were killed on American roads due to distracted driving, 995 of which died specifically because of drivers who were distracted by mobile phones. This includes all kinds of mobile phone use - texting, talking on the phone etc.

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811379.pdf

A ban of mobile phone use in cars will not prevent all of these fatalities, but it is a very effective tool to reduce the number of casualties. That's why I consider this bill a sensible piece of legislation which has a positive impact on road safety.

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

Debate having ended, voting is now open on the bill as it reads below.  Members will vote AYE, NAY, or ABSTAIN.  This will be a 48-hour vote:

Car Safety Act

1. Car drivers and passengers are required to wear seatbelts in a moving vehicle. Car drivers and passengers who violate this regulation shall be fined $50.

2. The use of mobile phones in a moving vehicle is not permitted for car drivers. Emergency calls and hands-free usage of mobile phones, i.e. the use of hands-free mobile phone equipment, are exempted from this clause. Car drivers who violate this regulation shall be fined $100.

3. Children up to the age of 6 years must be fastened in a government-approved child safety seat in a moving vehicle. Guidelines for child safety seats shall be made by the Mideast Department of Transport. In case this clause is violated, the car driver in question shall be fined $100.

[ZuWo]

Aye

[big bad fab]

AYE

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

ABSTAIN

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

The AYEs are 2, and the NAYs are 0, with 1 ABSTAIN, and 2 not voting.  The AYEs have it, and the bill is passed.  The bill is now passed onto the Governor for his signature or veto.

[afleitch]

x Afleitch