Arizona lawmakers may finally be ready to impose limits on driving and cell phone use, even if just slightly.
The Senate agreed Monday to make it illegal for new teen drivers to either talk on their phones or text. They also could not manually input destinations into phones or GPS devices while driving.
But the restrictions apply only to drivers with learner's permits or in the first six months after getting a license. After that, the restrictions would disappear.
Sen. Karen Fann of Prescott said it’s in addition to restrictions already in place for inexperienced drivers, including limiting the number of passengers and not allowing them to drive in the middle of the night.
“We did this specifically, this Class G license, so that our young folks can learn how to drive safely from the get-go,” Fann said.
Monday's 25-5 vote sends the measure to the House. If approved there, and signed by the governor, it would be Arizona's first-ever restriction on cell-phone use.