Ohio lawmakers continue push to expand law against distracted driving

BEAVERCREEK — Ohio lawmakers are continuing to push the state Senate to expand state law to crack down on distracted driving.

“We need to change our culture of driving. We need to get folks to put these phones down and please pay attention to the road,” state Rep. Brian Lampton, (R-Beavercreek), told News Center 7′s Brandon Lewis on Thursday night.

>> Bill to expand distracted driving laws moves to Senate

“Whether it’s texting, watching a movie, some people drive and take video and take pictures, all of those things will be in violation of this law,” he said.

Lampton said there would be exceptions, including when drivers are stopped in traffic. They could use their phone at that point. Also, driving with their phone to their ear would be allowed as well. Emergency and public safety personnel as well as licensed ham operators would be exempt when on the job, according to the proposed plan.

Some drivers told News Center 7 they see drivers on their phones all the time.

“People actively looking at messages or talking on the phone, so you see a lot of looking down or paying more attention to what’s on the phone than what’s going on around them,” said Amanda Rupp of Kettering.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported in 2020 that nearly 400 people in the United States were killed in vehicle accidents where cell phones were considered distractions.

This week, the plan was added to Senate Bill 288 — which involves sweeping criminal justice reform for the state. Some of the proposals include allowing inmates earn more time off prison sentences and making it easier to keep some criminal records away from the public.

If Senate Bill 288 fails?

Lampton, one of the bill’s primary sponsors, said he’s prepared to fight on for passage. “Absolutely. Now that it’s through the House and the Senate, it will go to the governor’s desk. We are very confident that the governor will sign it.”

If Gov. Mike DeWine signs the bill, drivers will get a grace period.

That grace period would be for six months, Lampton said, during which law enforcement would give drivers warnings. After that, the warnings would turn into fines.

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