Hands-free cellphone bill clears its first House hurdle

A renewed push to ban cellphone use behind the wheel without a hands-free device cleared its first hurdle Tuesday, earning a thumbs-up from a House transportation panel.

HF50, sponsored by Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Mpls), would expand an existing prohibition on using wireless communication devices while driving to outlaw handheld cellphone calls and general use of mobile devices by motorists behind the wheel.

Hornstein, who chairs the House Transportation Finance and Policy Division, helped lead an effort to pass a similar bill during the 2018 session that fell short of passage. During Tuesday’s hearing, the Minneapolis DFLer was clear on what he believed the impact of the legislation would be if signed into law.

“This bill saves lives,” Hornstein said.

Under the legislation, all handheld mobile device usage would be banned, including making phone calls, texting, accessing applications, and playing audio or video content. It would include exceptions for activating or deactivating features on the device using a one-touch mode, some emergency situations, and for use in emergency vehicles when used for official duties.

The bill would not increase existing penalties for violations.

HF50 was approved, as amended, and sent to the House Ways and Means Committee. Hornstein said other stops in the bill’s trip through the committee process were possible.

A companion, SF91, sponsored by Sen. Scott Newman (R-Hutchinson), awaits action by the Senate Transportation Finance and Policy Committee.

One-in-five crashes caused by distracted driving

The Department of Public Safety notes that distracted driving causes roughly 20 percent of crashes on the state’s roadways and kills an average of 53 people each year.

The bill is the continuation of a years-long push that has time and again been stymied. This year, however, Hornstein’s hands-free bill is drawing broad support from both sides of the aisle, in addition to public safety officials, trucking and insurance trade groups.

Gov. Tim Walz has said he would sign a distracted driving bill into law should it reach his desk.

[WATCH: Full video of the hearing] 

“I don’t think there’s a Minnesotan who hasn’t been impacted in their home or in their hearts by [distracted driving],” said Rep. Peggy Bennett (R-Albert Lea), a co-sponsor.

Lawmakers heard from more than a half-dozen Minnesotans impacted by distracted drivers — those who were struck themselves, or who lost children, parents, and friends.

Greg LaVallee’s son, Phil, was a 19-year-old on a track scholarship at South Dakota State when a distracted driver hit and killed him while he was out for a training run in 2013. The driver, he told the division, crossed over a lane of oncoming traffic and onto the shoulder, striking his son.

“She literally drove off the road and killed my son,” LaVallee said.

State Patrol Chief Matt Langer said that, in addition to decreasing distracted driving on Minnesota roadways, HF50 would make it easier for public safety officials to enforce the law. Under current law, drivers pulled over on suspicion of texting-while-driving can claim they were doing something else on their phone — pulling up driving directions or playing music, for example.

A hands-free requirement would make the law clearer for motorists and law enforcement alike, he said.

While no legislators voted against Hornstein’s bill, not all division members were convinced the measure would do much to eradicate distracted driving.

Those who use their phones while driving will still do so, even in the face of a new law, said Rep. Linda Runbeck (R-Circle Pines).

“This isn't going to stop it,” she said. 

Supporters, though, argued the bill is a step toward making Minnesota’s roads safer.

“If we just save one life through passage of this bill we will have done our jobs,” Hornstein said. “But the data shows we’ll save many more.”