Arizona Texting-While-Driving Bill Sitting Idle At House Speaker's Request
Another Arizona legislative session is nearly finished and attempts to pass a no-texting-while-driving law may be driving off a cliff.
Sen. Kate Brophy McGee authored the bill specifically cracking down on drivers caught texting.
It has bi-partisan support, including Gov. Doug Ducey's promise to sign it. However, the bill is stalled under House Speaker Rusty Bowers, who also heads up a Republican caucus voting against the measure.
"I don't understand how you can look at these horrific deaths and injuries that are occurring at a greater and greater rate of speed and say, 'We don't need to do anything," asked McGee.
An amendment forbidding police to pull over drivers for texting alone was a non-starter for McGee, who said it guts the bill's purpose to mirror local laws already in play in cities around the state.
Another Senate bill, focusing on distracted drivers in general, has also stalled in the House.
