| Author | Message | ||
| V.Z. (Ama328)
Junior Member Username: Ama328 Post Number: 189 Registered: 11-2002 |
you got this confused with the new laws legislating standards for hands free beer drinkin' & drivin'  | ||
| Patrick (Ferrarifan)
New member Username: Ferrarifan Post Number: 9 Registered: 6-2003 |
Now you're talking my lingo Ken! | ||
| Ken Thomas (Future328driver)
Member Username: Future328driver Post Number: 477 Registered: 12-2001 |
But, I do believe that there is a law pending before the Texas legislature that would require us to use straws to drink our beers while driving | ||
| Mitch Alsup (Mitch_alsup)
Member Username: Mitch_alsup Post Number: 894 Registered: 4-2002 |
Since Driving While Talking (on a cell phone) (DWT) is at least as accident prone as driving drunk (DWI), its about time! {Driving while talking to a passenger is not dangerous because the passenger can see any trouble and STOP talking while the driver adjusts for any impending issues.} {I should point out, that I am one of the few who has not been taken in with all this gagetry like cell phones, beepers, laptops, watches,....: even though my job creates much of the infrastructure that supports these things.} | ||
| Ken Thomas (Future328driver)
Member Username: Future328driver Post Number: 476 Registered: 12-2001 |
REMOVE THIS POST...MY BAD... I called the Texas Legislatures hotline and indeed this bill never made it anywhere in Austin. Sorry, I need to verify my sources  | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Intermediate Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 2307 Registered: 1-2002 |
Ken, did the governor actually sign this? I thought he pocket-vetoed it??? | ||
| Ken Thomas (Future328driver)
Member Username: Future328driver Post Number: 475 Registered: 12-2001 |
Hey everyone..... Just thought I would let you all know (if you did not already know) that on September 1, 2003, a new law goes into effect in Texas banning the use of cell phones while driving UNLESS you use a hands free device. Here is the text of the legislation.... 78R3858 JRJ-D By: Menendez H.B. No. 624 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to an offense of using a telephone while operating a motor vehicle. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 545, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 545.425 to read as follows: Sec. 545.425. USE OF TELEPHONE; OFFENSE. (a) In this section, "hands-free device" means speakerphone capability or a telephone attachment or other piece of equipment, regardless of whether permanently installed in the motor vehicle, that allows use of the telephone without use of either of the operator's hands. (b) An operator may not use a telephone while operating a motor vehicle unless: (1) the vehicle is stopped; or (2) the telephone is used with a hands-free device. (c) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution of an offense under this section that the telephone was used to make an emergency call to: (1) an emergency response service, including a rescue, emergency medical, or hazardous material response service; (2) a hospital; (3) a fire department; (4) a health clinic; (5) a medical doctor's office; (6) an individual to administer first aid treatment; or (7) a police department. (d) This section does not apply to an operator of an authorized emergency vehicle using a telephone while acting in an official capacity. (e) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of: (1) not less than $25 or more than $100 if the offense occurs outside a school crossing zone; or (2) not less than $125 or more than $200 if the offense occurs within a school crossing zone. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003. |