New bill could ban texting while driving

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by Josh Egbert

Story Created: Jan 14, 2013 at 5:40 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jan 14, 2013 at 6:30 PM CDT

Drivers sending or receiving text messages behind the wheel may look up and see flashing lights in the rearview mirror under a proposed bill in the Nebraska Legislature.

Scottsbluff Senator John Harms has introduced a bill that would make texting while driving a primary offense in Nebraska.

Under current law, police can write tickets for the offense only if they make a stop for another traffic violation.

Harms sponsored the initial legislation that had included texting as a primary offense, but was amended by lawmakers on the floor.

"With a tremendous number of people beginning to text while they're driving we need to deal with this issue, this is a crisis just waiting to happen to us," said Harms.

According to the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety, there were 89 convictions for texting behind the wheel in 2011.

The state also saw 3,500 distracted driving crashed resulting in 1200 injuries and six fatalities.

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