KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College,
and Maricopa Community Colleges

Copyright © 2024 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Lawmaker Wants Action On Texting While Driving Bill

A state Senate panel yesterday voted to enact Arizona ’s first-ever law banning texting while driving.  It’s an effort Sen. Steve Farley has been pushing since 2007 without success. 

This year Farley invoked the name of fallen DPS officer Tim Huffman, killed last year while investigating an accident when a truck driver reading his Facebook page hit his patrol vehicle. 

Sen. John Kavanagh said he supports the idea.

“Even though I would vote for a bill which would ban texting and reading texts, I know that would never pass this Legislature at this time. But I did want to see something go through. And I think the most dangerous part of the texting is entering the text,” Kavanagh said

The panel unanimously approved a bill that would impose a $100 fine for a first texting and driving offense. The fine jumps to $1,000 if a deadly crash occurs. 

The bill, as amended, would not ban what a video camera in the cab shows the truck driver was doing when he hit Huffman.