Austin (WBAP/KLIF News) – The Texas House Transportation Committee has passed a ban on texting while driving. House Bill 62 was written by Republican Tom Craddick.
“This is the fourth session we’ve done this,” Craddick says. “It’s kind of gotten to the point of ridiculousness.”
The legislature first passed a ban on texting while driving in 2011, but the proposal was vetoed by former Governor Rick Perry. Perry described the bill as an example of “government overreach,” saying individual cities could develop their own rules.
Lawmakers have considered bans in each session since.
More than 100 cities in Texas ban texting while driving, including ten in North Texas.
During testimony this week, a man whose daughter died in a crash while texting urged lawmakers to adopt the ban.
“I will tell you that every day, I live that crash in my head,” Mike Myers said. “I hear her screams in my head, and I hear her silence.”
The measure will now move to the full House of Representatives. A companion bill has been introduced in the Texas Senate.
Forty-six states ban texting while driving.
