State lawmakers are moving fast on legislation to keep cellphones out of the hands of new drivers.
But, under the proposal, the practice will remain legal for the other five million Arizona motorists, and anyone else who drives in the state.
Members of the Arizona Senate Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure voted Tuesday to mandate that those with instructional permits cannot use hand-held devices, for any reason, for six months. That includes not only texting but also talking on the phone, and extends to teenagers learning to drive.
The bill is being shepherded by Sen. Karen Fann from Prescott, who has sponsored similar measures in past years when she was a member of the House.
"The sole purpose (of Class G restrictions) is that these young people need to be concentrating, not be distracted by others in the car, by other things going on," Fann said. "They need to learn good driving habits."
The legislature also had a pair of broader measures to regulate texting and driving, but those bills are not being given further hearings.