OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A proposal to ban texting
while driving in Oklahoma has been derailed in a Republican-controlled
House committee amid concerns it jeopardizes personal freedoms and would
be difficult to enforce.
One day after supporters of the ban rallied at the
Capitol, the House Calendar Committee on Thursday tabled the bill by
Smithville Democratic Rep. Curtis McDaniel.
McDaniel says the bill still could be brought to
the floor for a vote and he's urging supporters to lobby members of the
committee to let it out, saying "We're dealing with people's lives
here."
House Speaker T.W. Shannon said Thursday he's among
the opponents of the proposal because he's concerned about how such a
ban would be enforced and that distracted driving already is illegal in
Oklahoma.
Online:
House Bill 1503: http://bit.ly/WNtnni
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