A state Assembly bill that bans texting while driving in Wisconsin now awaits final consideration after claiming 89 votes from state Assembly members. Six members voted against the bill.
The bill outlaws composing and sending electronic messages while driving, including text messages and e-mails. Under the bill, first-time violations may cost between $100 and $400 and subsequent convictions within a year may cost between $200 and $800. Exemptions to the bill include emergency vehicles and Global Positioning System devices.
Current law prohibits inattentive driving of a motor vehicle but does not indicate specific distractive behaviors. Although a ban on texting and driving was instated last November in Kenosha, state Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, the author of the bill, said he hopes to see it extended to a statewide law.
The legislation was initially introduced in October 2009 where it was referred to the Committee on Transportation and amended. The revised bill aims to take effect July 2010.
